States » NorthPosted at: Oct 13 2026 7:57PM


Himachal Guv calls for preserving Himachal’s cultural heritage, environment

Shimla, October 13 (UNI) Himachal Governor Kavinder Gupta has called for collective efforts to preserve Himachal Pradesh’s cultural heritage, natural resources and traditional way of life, while urging people to protect local languages and keep youth away from drug abuse.
He was speaking at the inauguration of ‘Mukhautasur’, a two-day theatre festival based on the novel ‘Hidimb’ by renowned author S.R. Harnot, at the historic Gaiety Theatre in Shimla on Monday evening.
The play was presented by artists of Chandernahan Rangmanch, Rohru. The production conveys a message on protecting the environment, folk culture, mountains and rivers from growing commercial and selfish interests. Appreciating the artists and director Krish Bharti, the Governor said the play went beyond the story of Mata Hidimba and highlighted challenges confronting Himalayan society, including environmental degradation, erosion of cultural values and drug abuse among youth.
He particularly appreciated the inclusion of Himachal’s folk songs, local dialects and traditional cultural elements, saying these gave the production a distinct identity and connected it with the people and cultural roots of the state.
Gupta said Himachal Pradesh should not be viewed merely as a tourism destination, stressing the need to protect its forests, mountains and rivers while preserving traditional dialects, folk traditions, festivals and musical instruments.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi’, the Governor said development must go hand in hand with the protection of India’s cultural heritage and natural environment.
He also referred to initiatives such as Mission LiFE and ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, observing that environmental conservation should become a collective responsibility and part of everyday life.
The Governor appealed to people to speak their local languages at home, celebrate traditional festivals with pride and familiarise the younger generation with Himachal’s rich cultural heritage.
He also urged collective efforts to keep forests, rivers and mountains clean and protected, while safeguarding youth from social evils such as drug abuse.
Gupta welcomed the growing academic interest in Harnot’s novel ‘Hidimb’, noting that it had received recognition beyond Himachal Pradesh and become a subject of research at universities in India and abroad.
He congratulated Chandernahan Rangmanch, the cast and crew, and the Himalayan Literature, Culture and Environment Forum, Shimla, for organising the programme and wished the team success.
UNI BN
Tags: #Himachal Guv calls for preserving Himachal’s cultural heritage# environment
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