Living amidst mountains is a dream of many. They are the planet’s silent sentinels, holding stories of ecology, culinary traditions, climate, simplistic lifestyle and a strong cultural identity. This winter, if you miss being at the snow-capped Himalayan mountains, Royal Enfield’s Social Mission returns for the second edition of ‘Journeying Across the Himalayas’, a multidisciplinary festival that honours the mountains. The week-long exhibition will be held at the Travancore Palace in New Delhi from December 4–10 December bringing a mix of art, culture, conversation, and community chronicling stories of the great Himalayan landscape.
This year’s theme, “Ours to Tell,” views the Himalayas not merely as geography but as a living archive of memory. Through collaborations with Himalayan communities, the festival reclaims indigenous narratives and celebrates intersections of identity, oral traditions, conservation, language, and contemporary art. The exhibition, like its inaugural edition last year, shares a roadmap for responsible exploration. Viewers can expect a spotlight on local voices and creative expressions, envisioning a sustainable, community-led future for the region.
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“We made a strong beginning with our debut edition last year. Encouraged by the audience’s response, we are excited to announce the second edition of our festival, ‘Journeying Across The Himalayas’. Building on that experience, and with the curatorial theme ‘Ours to Tell’, this year we bring together more communities-their voices, and their stories—at the intersection of culture, craft, and collaboration. Over eight days, the festival will serve as a living network of artisans, entrepreneurs, collaborators, mentors, and supporters. Beyond celebrating Royal Enfield’s deep-rooted connection with the Himalayas, it reflects our long-term commitment to partner with 100 Himalayan communities”, says Bidisha Dey, Executive Director of Eicher Group Foundation, the CSR arm of Royal Enfield.
Highlights from the 2025 Edition
‘Journeying Across the Himalayas’ features a tactile and cinematic tribute to one of the world’s rarest fibres in the exhibit ‘The Himalayan Knot.’ It traces the life of Ladakhi Pashmina — from the high-altitude pastures of the Changpa nomads to the looms of Bengal. Documented by filmmaker Avani Rai and photographer Manou, the exhibition unveils the delicate balance between craft, climate, and culture. The story culminates in a clothing collection by Suket Dhir, fusing Ladakhi Pashmina with Jamdani weaving from Bengal in a confluence of mountains and plains weaving traditions.
To make the festival even more sensorial, ‘Echoes of the East’ brings alive the endangered languages, weaving traditions, and harvest celebrations of Northeast India through a display of sound, fabric, and ritual. Presented in three interwoven zones, the exhibition draws attention to the living yet overlooked heritage of the Northeast region’s Himalayan communities.
At the centre of the festival lies ‘The Himalayan Hub’ — a group of pavilions designed as living laboratories of learning. Conceived by Prachi Joshi, the Hub embodies community-driven initiatives across climate resilience, responsible tourism, and cultural preservation.
Himalayas often inspire us to look inwards in an act of soul searching. At the exhibition, viewers can find themselves in a devotional realm as monks from Namgyal Monastery, Dharamsala create a live Sand Mandala on-site, echoing the teachings of His Holiness. The exhibition will also have a display by Helmets for India and Start Foundation for Arts and Culture (SFAC), where artists transform motorcycle helmets into vibrant canvases echoing the message of art, advocacy, and road safety awareness.
Further, the evenings at Travancore Palace will pulse with the sounds and engaging screenings. From the lyrical Balti Ghazals of Kargil and Uttarakhand’s folk-fusion collective The Pandavaas, to the experimental Nepali rhythms of Gauley Bhai, and soulful performances by Chorun Mugli from Arunachal Pradesh — the lineup offers a sweeping symphony of Himalayan voices. Further, the festival’s film segment, DIFF on the Road, curated by the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF), will screen daily from 5–10 December, showcasing films by Himalayan filmmakers
Bazaar, Workshops and Food
Curated by Punita Chadda, ‘The Himalayan Bazaar’ celebrates the craftsmanship and creativity of artisans from across the region. Visitors can engage with local makers, discover handwoven textiles, and take home tangible pieces of the mountains. Food becomes a language of its own at the festival with culinary experiences that trace recipes passed down through generations. Immersive workshops and panel discussions with thought leaders, artists, and community practitioners will invite dialogue around sustainability, climate, circularity, and culture. From craft-making and storytelling circles to culinary and art-based sessions, each encounter promises to plant a seed of awareness and imagination.
