Pandawaj Band, which has given recognition to the folk culture and folk songs of Uttarakhand in the country and the world, is now struggling to organize events in its own mountain. The team has not yet found any sponsor for the Kafal Festival to be held from 20 to 22 March 2026 in Sari village of Rudraprayag, although government departments and private institutions were contacted for several months. Pandawaj has also issued an open letter regarding this, in which it has been said that financial support will not be received. The team says that the festival was praised from many places, but no one supported it. Some people suggested doing it in a city like Dehradun, on which the team raised the question that if the events are held in cities only, then what benefit will the hills and villages get from it. Dainik Bhaskar had a special conversation with Pandawaj team member Kunal Doval on this issue. He spoke openly on the purpose of the festival, funding problems, zero plastic model and the challenges of saving culture in the mountains. Read the entire conversation in question and answer… Question- You issued a letter saying that you are not a sponsor? Answer- This is our second year of Kafal Festival. We saw festivals in areas like Ladakh and Arunachal, where people are very conscious about their culture, environment and language. From there we felt that something like this should happen in Uttarakhand also. In 2025 we organized the first Kafal Festival, which was successful. There were few sponsors at that time, but Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) cooperated. They helped because the festival was based on zero plastic thinking. This time we talked to government departments, universities and companies. Everyone said the idea was good, but no one gave money. Some said that do it in Dehradun, but we believe that it will not benefit the village. Question- How much does the event cost and where is the money coming from this time? Answer- Last year about Rs 15 lakh was spent. This time it is a three-day festival, so the expenditure is approximately Rs 35 lakh. Right now we are spending mostly from our own pockets. Some friends help, but there is no big sponsor. We are not going to stop, but we have to create a sustainable model to run it further. Question- What did you do regarding zero plastic? Answer- We completely stopped single-use plastic. Water was not given in bottles, but kept in pots. Each participant was given a glass that could be used again and again. We believe that in a Rs 20 bottle we buy plastic, not water. Water is free in the mountains, so why sell it in plastic. Question- Why was Sari village chosen for this festival? Answer- Sari village is in Rudraprayag and Deoria Tal trek starts from here. This is a very sensitive area and the problem of garbage may increase in the future. We thought that work should be done only where the need is greatest. This is also our home district, so it was easy to convince people. Question- How was the event last year and what is new this time? Answer- Last year we organized the event without a stage. Natural rock was made the stage. No tent or structure was set up. It was an event completely in harmony with nature. We also conducted photography workshops, in which Nikon provided equipment. Local youth were taught photography of birds and wildlife. Question- What is your message for local artists? Answer- Don’t work alone, form a team. You don’t get money in the beginning, but if the work is genuine then people join. Even today many people are working in our festival without any money, because they think it is a good work. ———————— Also read this news: 8 digital ‘brand ambassadors’ of Uttarakhand: People are liking Pandavas-Haldwani’s aunty, they are promoting their culture in foreign countries too. Lack of employment and opportunities is a big challenge for the youth in the mountains of Pawan Pahari Uttarakhand. Many youth migrate to cities to fulfill their dreams, but digital platforms have created new hope in this situation. Through vlogs and YouTube channels, youth are not only showcasing their talent and creativity, but are also finding ways to survive in the mountains and keep their culture alive. (Read full news)
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उत्तराखंड के बैंड ‘PANDVAS’ को नहीं मिल रही फंडिंग: बोले- पहाड़ में चाहते हैं ‘काफल फेस्टिवल’, हमें कहा गया देहरादून में करो – Dehradun News
