Dr. Shikha Mishra
“Khatima’s three-day Aadi Rangotsav celebrates the vibrant heritage of Tharu, Bhoksa, Jaunsari and Raji communities, as CM Dhami’s dhol-led cultural connect unites a ‘Mini India’, while Rs 10 crore is announced for expansion and facilities at the Eklavya Residential School”
Khatima: The vibrant colours of India’s tribal heritage came alive in Khatima as the three-day Uttarakhand Aadi Rangotsav opened with a spectacular celebration of culture, tradition and tribal pride. In a powerful display of India’s cultural diversity, tribal artists from Uttarakhand and several other states showcased their traditional attire, folk dances, music and customs, transforming the festival into a living expression of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami formally inaugurated the festival by lighting the ceremonial lamp. The event was attended by Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Juel Oram, among other dignitaries.
The festival witnessed a particularly lively moment when Chief Minister Dhami joined the performers, danced alongside the artists and even played the dhol, drawing enthusiastic applause from the gathering. His participation added a personal and energetic dimension to the celebration of Uttarakhand’s tribal traditions.
‘Aadi Rangotsav is a celebration of tribal pride’
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Dhami described Aadi Rangotsav as far more than a cultural programme, calling it a celebration of India’s rich tribal heritage, traditions and collective pride. He said such festivals provide an important platform for taking indigenous cultures to wider audiences while connecting younger generations with their roots.
Dhami highlighted the cultural diversity of Khatima, describing the town as a “Mini India”, where different communities, traditions and cultural identities coexist. The presence of Tharu, Bhoksa, Jaunsari and Raji communities at the festival vividly reflected this diversity.
He said the Uttarakhand government is committed to empowering tribal communities through education, healthcare, employment and infrastructure, while simultaneously protecting their cultural identity and traditional heritage.
Rs 10 crore for Khatima Eklavya Residential School
A major announcement came from Union Tribal Affairs Minister Juel Oram, who announced Rs 10 crore for the expansion and improvement of facilities at the Eklavya Residential School in Khatima.
Chief Minister Dhami also urged Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Juel Oram to establish an Eklavya Residential School in the Pithoragarh region, stressing the importance of expanding quality residential education for tribal children in remote areas.
The Chief Minister expressed his appreciation for the Centre’s support in strengthening residential tribal education and said such investments would help create greater opportunities for young people from tribal communities.
Housing and basic facilities remain a priority
Dhami said the state government has also focused on improving housing access for tribal families. Under the Atal Awas Yojana, the income eligibility criteria have been made more practical and financial assistance for house construction has been increased. More than Rs 3 crore has already been provided to beneficiaries in Udham Singh Nagar under the scheme.
Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), tribal families continue to constitute a significant share of applicants. Of the housing applications received this year, approximately 28% have come from tribal families.
Under PM-JANMAN, the state has completed 824 houses in the first phase and another 101 in the second phase, strengthening efforts to provide vulnerable tribal communities with secure housing and essential facilities.
Education receives major push
The government, Dhami said, is also investing in Ashram schools, hostels and ITI institutions serving tribal communities.
A 100-bed boys’ hostel is being constructed in Bazpur, while more than Rs 16 crore is being spent on school infrastructure. Another Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned for a girls’ hostel. The Tharu Government Inter College is also undergoing beautification and modernisation.
These initiatives, the Chief Minister said, are aimed at ensuring that tribal children have access to better educational infrastructure and opportunities without being separated from their cultural roots.
Everest achievers honoured
The festival also became an occasion to celebrate remarkable achievements from the Tharu community. Dhami congratulated BSF personnel Mohan Singh Rana, a resident of Anjania village in Khatima, and Teela Sen, daughter of Charubeta, for successfully scaling Mount Everest.
He said their achievement had brought pride not only to the Tharu community but to the entire state of Uttarakhand, and described their success as an inspiration for the younger generation.
From culture to livelihoods
The Chief Minister also underlined the government's efforts to link tribal communities with economic opportunities through the National Rural Livelihood Mission, providing employment, training and market access.
Tribal products are being promoted through improved marketing and market linkages, alongside revolving funds and investment assistance, with the objective of strengthening household incomes and encouraging self-reliance.
He further noted that under the Chief Minister’s Border Area Development Programme, more than Rs 10 crore worth of schemes were implemented between 2020 and 2025.
Aadi Rangotsav thus emerged not merely as a spectacle of costumes, music and dance, but as a broader statement of inclusion: a celebration of communities whose traditions form an essential part of India’s civilisational mosaic. In Khatima, tribal heritage found a stage, young aspirations found new possibilities, and cultural diversity delivered a powerful message—India’s unity is strengthened not by uniformity, but by the preservation and celebration of its many identities.
