DM Rudraprayag flagged off the Rudranath Festival 2026
The grand and enthusiastic Rudranath Festival 2026 of Rudraprayag district, steeped in mythology, spirituality, and history, was inaugurated on January 07, by District Magistrate Prateek Jain, who flagged off the event. A magnificent cultural rally organized in the town area attracted considerable attention. The rally, held to mark the opening of the festival, started from the petrol pump intersection and proceeded to Gulabrai Ground. A large number of school students, women’s groups, youth groups, local artists, and general citizens participated enthusiastically in the rally. The rally showcased the rich folk culture, traditional attire, and cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. Attractive cultural tableaux were presented to the melodious tunes of traditional musical instruments such as the Dhol-Damau, Ransingha, and Masakbeen.
These tableaux depicted the spiritual and cultural traditions of the district, including the Rudra avatar of Lord Shiva, and were a major attraction for the spectators. On this occasion, District Magistrate Prateek Jain said that the Rudranath Festival, organized under the Rudraprayag Municipal area, will be held from January 7th to 13th, 2026, at Gulabrai Ground, and is being celebrated as a winter festival. He said that currently, a large number of tourists are arriving in the district as part of the winter tourism season, and the snowfall in the higher Himalayan regions has further increased the number of tourists. The District Magistrate said that keeping this in mind, the Rudranath Festival has been organized in conjunction with winter tourism, so that tourists can be introduced to the folk culture, religious, and spiritual significance of the district.
He informed that through the stalls set up by various departments during the festival, information about the welfare schemes of the central and state governments will be provided, and eligible beneficiaries will be given the benefits of these schemes. He praised the rally, saying that the widespread participation of students, women, local artists, and citizens made the inauguration of the festival extremely grand and successful. He expressed confidence that for the next seven days, this festival will remain a center of enthusiasm, culture, and joy for tourists and local citizens alike.
