Specially written for Vikalp Sangam
A shared heritage of the Himalayas; Gujjaran-Go-Kaarj
From 11th to 13th February 2026, the Van Gujjar community came together for a biocultural festival to celebrate the Gojri Buffalo: A shared heritage of the Himalayas. The festival was part of the UN’s International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, with February dedicated to Mobility, Land, and Water Security. It was also the International Month of the buffalo. At Rajaji Retreat in Rishikesh, and later at the community ground in Meena Bazar, Kunao Chaur, Pauri Garhwal, songs, conversations, and shared meals wove together the threads of culture, tradition, and coexistence. Dialogues opened around women’s leadership and struggle, the Forest Rights Act, and the everyday realities of pastoral life. Over three days, nearly 800 people joined in, with the festival hosted by the Van Gujjar Tribal Yuva Sangathan and Kalpavriksh, alongside many supporting NGOs and volunteers.
Day One
For the Van Gujjar community, every auspicious occasion begins with the churning of the mathani: a buttermilk churner that symbolises the central place of the Gojri buffalo in their lives and livelihood. In this photo, a community elder is seen preparing the mathani for the chief guest to ensure it is set just right.
The inauguration replaced ribbon with a coconut coir rope, an everyday material turned into a symbol of sustainability. Dr Udai Shankar, Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, paused to appreciate: “Please never modernise it. Many people want to learn from you and understand the way you live.”
The festival also hosted an exhibition where community women displayed products from their Self-Help Groups, alongside traditional fans and jewellery offered for sale. Adding to the spirit, school children joined in with great excitement. They shaped clay into alphabets and fruits like aamla and baheda, gathered from their neighbourhoods, proudly showcasing their creations to visitors.
Among the unique displays was a collection of bainth songs from the forest, hung delicately on threads. Each song swayed gently in the breeze, as if carrying its own melody. Watching them move, one could almost feel the songs speaking, whispering their stories.
The displays also opened windows into the everyday life of the Van Gujjar community, showing how they migrate with their buffaloes from the Terai landscape to the high meadows, and the relationship they share with each other and the forest. Alongside this, elements of material culture were presented: tools, utensils, and objects from their agro-pastoral lifestyle, carried and used during migration. These displays offered visitors a glimpse of movement, work, and coexistence that shape Van Gujjar life.
The stage itself was built by the Van Gujjar community traditionally, using thatch, grass, bamboo, and sticks, giving it the feel of a forest home. On this stage, the welcome bainth performance was presented by the community’s folk singers, their voices setting the tone for the festival.
A long fabric was spread out so participants could let their creativity flow, drawing whatever the festival or the landscape inspired in them.
Throughout the three days of the festival, bainth performances by folk singers filled the spaces between sessions. Their songs became a constant thread, carrying stories and melodies.
For the first time, Van Gujjar women sat on the panel. Misra Bano shared: “As we went to the doctor, we found that most of the women in the community have anaemia, so we started our own organic kitchen garden initiative.” Beside her, Nagma added: “Earlier, there was only one female tutor from the community; this year, the number increased to three.” Their voices linked everyday struggles to women’s leadership in health and education. Bhawana from Gujarat added how Maldhari women lost control over milk income after bank accounts shifted power to men, tying gendered livelihood struggles across regions. The session also included a panel discussion on the history of the Van Gujjar community.
The lunch was served traditionally, in the Van Gujjar way. The meal began with ghee, bhura, and rice offered as a sweet dish, followed by dal and rice. The aroma of ghee and bhura filled the air as everyone sat cross-legged, eating from round plates that the community uses during daily life and migration. This shared meal gave participants a chance to experience the Van Gujjars’ way of living, simple, communal, and deeply rooted in tradition.
Following the traditional lunch, community children performed a short act on the importance of education. As the evening settled in, chai was served in kulhads by community members, keeping the atmosphere earthy. This simple gesture also reflected a conscious effort to minimise plastic waste, blending hospitality with care for the environment.
Day Two:
The morning began with Vivekanandan ji from SEVA dancing to the IYRP song, sung by him. His energy drew others in, reminding participants that pastoral struggles in Tamil Nadu echoed those in Uttarakhand, grazing rights, herbal animal care, and resilience.
District Legal Services Authority, Pauri Garhwal
On the second day, two sessions flowed together, one on coexistence, the other on the Forest Rights Act (FRA). Community voices carried the discussion. Shadu Shamshad explained: “The Gojri buffalo has always been first … when the buffalo makes paths to reach water, wildlife also follows those paths and drinks from the ponds created by the community.” Hamja added: “In our deras, there are no closed doors or windows, sunlight enters freely, and leopards never come inside. These are our relationships with wildlife.” Ravi Chellam reminded participants that there are no “pristine forests” untouched by humans, urging recognition of pastoralists as ecological stewards.
The FRA session deepened the struggle. Community members recounted eviction notices and destruction of deras and fodder godowns. Md.Safi recalled the 2025 Supreme Court stay protecting Van Gujjar homes and agriculture, reciting shayari on resilience: “Sangharsh karna, sankat ka jeevan bitana padta hai, laga kar kaanto ka Takiya fir sar ko uspe tikana padta hai, har ang chahiye hamein lohe ka aur dil ko patthar banana padta hai”
Chief Guest Nazish Kaleem assured support, recognising para-legal volunteers as bridges for advocacy.
The second day concluded with a performance by the community on the Penchi – A local governance system, traditional folklore, and reflections on climate change. Through song, dialogue, and performance, they brought alive the wisdom of their governance practices and the resilience embedded in their cultural narratives, while also connecting these traditions to the urgent realities of the changing environment.
Day Three:
On the third day, during the Pashu Mela, nearly 500 buffaloes were assembled by their Maee (caretakers). Competitions showcased milk strength and beauty, affirming the pastoral milk economy.
Bulls locked horns briefly before being stopped by their Maee. The fights were natural, but the care deliberate, showing the bond between herders and animals. Van Gujjar children effortlessly perched on branches. Their agility reflected a childhood lived in the forest, tying mobility to land rights.
As the Hon’ble Minister of State, Vice Chairman of the Animal Welfare Board, Mr Surender Singh Moga, was the Chief guest of the day, the mela ended with collective demands: insurance schemes for migratory buffalo keepers, Kisan Credit Cards, recognition of ethno-veterinary knowledge, and a state pastoral policy. More than an animal fair, it was a reminder that the Gojri buffalo and the Van Gujjar way of life remain central to Uttarakhand’s ecological and cultural fabric.
About the author
Neha Negi is a Programme Associate- Community Conserved Areas with Kalpavriksh’s Conservation and Livelihoods team, where she works on community-led conservation initiatives and manages a self-strengthening support programme.
Contact the author.