The Ghasiyari Festival

A small and scenic village with sprawling farms, Pantwari is the starting point of the Nag Tibba Trek. It is located 90 kms from Dehradun, the closest city.

The Ghasiyari Festival: A Celebration of Rural Life and Women Empowerment

On International Women’s Day 2022, the Matholi village in the Chinyalisaur block of Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, was the venue for a unique celebration of rural life and women empowerment – The Ghasiyari Festival. This event was a testament to the strength and resilience of women in rural areas.

The festival was initiated by Bakri Chhap, under the leadership of the late Savita Kanswal, the posthumous recipient of the Tenzing Norgay Award 2023. The event was hosted by Mr. Pradeep Panwar, the owner of The Women’s Village – Matholi, and the oldest employee of Bakri Chhap. The primary objective of this event was to bring an off-the-grid village into the limelight of the tourism fraternity, promote traditional nature-based living, empower women, and create a comprehensive catalog showcasing local culture and agriculture.

Highlights Of The Festival

  • The festival’s highlight was a grass-cutting contest, where five teams, each comprising eight women, vied to cut the maximum amount of grass within 15 minutes. The winning team, led by Anila Panwar, impressively managed to cut 42 kg of grass within the stipulated time.
  • In addition to the grass-cutting contest, The residents of Matholi village witnessed a fashion show of its own kind. The ramp was taken over by a troop of city girls from Kartavya Foundation, dressed in the traditional attire of “erstwhile resident women of village Matholi”. 
  • The festival also honored social activists Rama Devi, Tanuja Chauhan, and Sunita Devi. These events not only encourage tourism but also bolster the local economy and empower women.

Conclusion

The Ghasiyari Festival is a celebration of the spirit of rural women and their significant contributions to their communities. It stands as a testament to their strength, resilience, and the crucial role they play in sustaining the local economy. The festival is planned to be an annual event, further promoting tourism and women’s empowerment in the region.