Mehndi and Aipan competitions to mark the beginning; first-ever couple dance and laughter show among new attractions
Almora. Preparations for the historic Shri Nanda Devi Mela 2026 are nearing completion, with arrangements for the worship rituals of Maa Nanda Devi already completed. This year, the fair is set to become more grand, vibrant and culturally diverse, with several new programmes aimed at providing a wider platform to local artists and promoting the rich folk traditions of Uttarakhand.
Mela Committee Chief Convener Tara Chandra Joshi said that several new cultural programmes have been introduced this year to make the event more attractive and culturally enriching.
Chief Cultural Convener Arjun Singh Bisht Cheema informed that auditions for dance and singing competitions will be held at the Shri Nanda Devi Temple premises from 11 a.m. on August 23. Participants will be selected for junior and senior categories of dance, as well as junior and senior categories of Hindi and Kumaoni singing.
Selected singers will receive 10 days of training from the temple committee along with traditional musical instruments. This year, the fair will begin with Mehndi and Aipan competitions. For the first time, a special couple dance competition will also be organised, allowing pairs such as mother-daughter, mother-in-law-daughter-in-law and father-son to participate.
A laughter show competition will also be held, providing an opportunity for local comedy artists as well as school students to showcase their talent. Other major attractions will include school cultural processions, women’s cultural processions, Jhoda cultural processions, Jhoda performances and competitions, Mata Ki Chowki, devotional music evenings and performances by cultural groups associated with the Department of Information and Culture.
Every day of the fair will feature star nights with renowned Uttarakhand artists and local performers, along with open-mic programmes and sports competitions for women.
The committee has also decided that participants who secured first position in last year’s dance and singing competitions will not be eligible to compete in the same categories this year. However, special platforms will be provided to such talented artists to showcase their abilities.
Artists, cultural groups and other performers interested in participating have been invited to submit their details to the Temple Committee and Mela Committee by August 24. Selected participants will be given an opportunity to perform on the cultural stage during the fair.
One of the special initiatives this year will focus on preserving the fading folk traditions of Kumaon. Selected traditional locations across the town will host performances of folk forms such as ‘Ber’ and ‘Bhagnaul’. Rural artists from distant areas, local folk performers and guest artists will participate in these programmes. A special Kumaoni Star Night featuring the melodious sounds of traditional Kumaoni musical instruments will also be organised.
The cultural programmes will be held at the Shri Nanda Devi Temple premises and Adams Ground. The committee aims to transform the Nanda Devi Mela from merely an entertainment event into a grand cultural festival that showcases Uttarakhand’s rich folk traditions, heritage and local talent, while providing them a platform for wider recognition at the national level.
