08-03-2026 : Governor attended the Tehri Lake Festival in Tehri Garhwal on Sunday as the Chief Guest.

Lok Bhavan Uttarakhand-Information Wing
Press Note

“Tehri Festival Has Demonstrated the Capabilities of Uttarakhand”: Governor

Governor Appreciates the Festival for Promoting Environment, Tourism, Culture, and Adventure Sports

Shares Personal Anecdotes Highlighting Women Empowerment

Presents Awards to Winners and Encourages Participants

Lok Bhavan Dehradun/Tehri Garhwal 08 March, 2026

The Governor, Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd), attended the Tehri Lake Festival in Tehri Garhwal on Sunday as the Chief Guest. He said that the festival has successfully conveyed significant messages related to environmental conservation, year-round tourism, culture, and adventure sports to audiences across the country and the world. He remarked that the event has demonstrated not only the potential of Tehri but also the capabilities of the entire state of Uttarakhand. He expressed confidence that Uttarakhand will play an important role in achieving the vision of a Developed India.

Appreciating the organisers of the Tehri Lake Festival, the Governor said that the participation of over 3,500 participants in more than 15 competitions over four days was highly encouraging. He particularly highlighted the expansion of the festival’s scope and the inclusion of diverse themes this year.

Governor Highlights Women’s Empowerment through Personal Anecdotes

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Governor dedicated a significant portion of his address to the empowerment of women. He said that the daughters of the mountains have high aspirations and possess remarkable strength and determination. Through four personal anecdotes, he illustrated the growing confidence and achievements of women.

In the first anecdote, the Governor recalled an interaction with a Class IX NCC cadet in Dehradun who, when asked about her ambition, confidently stated that she wished to become the Chief of Defence Staff.

In the second instance, he mentioned meeting a young participant in an AI-based competition at a technical university who expressed her passion for technology, reflecting how young women are embracing the importance of innovation and technological advancement.

In the third anecdote, he recalled meeting women associated with a Self-Help Group during his first visit to the state. These women produce nine varieties of traditional Himalayan salt, which are now sold even in cities like New York and London.

In the fourth example, he referred to a woman mushroom cultivator from Almora who initially earned ₹25,000 per month. Encouraged to increase her earnings, she soon reached a monthly income of ₹1 lakh, and he expressed confidence that she could eventually achieve an annual income of ₹1 crore.

Address Covers Key Issues of the Himalayan Region

The Governor also touched upon issues related to water, forests, land, the history of Tehri, and the region’s rich cultural and culinary traditions, including traditional Himalayan foods and millets.

He expressed appreciation for the inclusion of Himalayan O₂ initiatives in the festival, stating that it conveys a strong message about environmental conservation. He also praised the Chhui Bath discussions held during the event and suggested that the deliberations be compiled and published in the form of a book. He also appreciated MLA Shri Kishore Upadhyay for his commitment to Himalayan concerns.

Promoting Year-Round Tourism

The Governor said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has emphasised that tourism in Uttarakhand should not be limited to the Char Dham pilgrimage alone, but should extend throughout the year. In line with this vision, the state is actively promoting winter tourism, rural tourism, cultural tourism, and other tourism initiatives.

Awards Presented to Winners

During the event, the Governor distributed prizes to winners of competitions including painting, Master Chef, group fashion show, and Mr. and Mrs. Tehri. The district administration presented him with a commemorative memento in the form of the traditional Himalayan musical instrument Ransingha. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, a theatrical performance was also presented by Sur Ganga Sangeet Kala Manch, which was appreciated by the Governor.

Earlier, on his arrival at the helipad, the Governor was warmly received by MLA Shri Kishore Upadhyay, District Magistrate Smt. Nitika Khandelwal, SSP Shri Ayush Agarwal, District Panchayat Chairperson Smt. Ishita Sajwan, BJP District President Shri Uday Rawat, and other public representatives and officials.

The programme was attended by State Minister (MoS) Shri Vinod Uniyal, Smt. Geeta Rawat, Secretary to the Governor Shri Ravinath Raman, Chairperson of Nagar Palika Parishad New Tehri Shri Mohan Singh Rawat, Chairperson of Chamba Smt. Shobhni Dhanola, and other dignitaries. The programme was anchored by Shri Rakesh Badhani.
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