Saputara 'Monsoon Festival' begins with nature,culture & adventure

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Saturday inaugurated the Saputara Monsoon Festival 2026 at Gujarat’s only hill station, marking the beginning of a three-week celebration of nature, tribal culture, folk arts, adventure and local traditions.The festival, which will continue till August 29, aims to offer visitors a diverse experience of Saputara’s monsoon landscape through cultural programmes, outdoor adventure activities, nature trails, local cuisine, tribal arts and handicrafts.
A range of attractions have been planned for visitors, including a parade based on the theme ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, musical and cultural programmes, craft and tribal art workshops, nature trails, adventure activities, rain dance, selfie points and other family-oriented entertainment programmes.

VIDEO | Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated the ‘Saputara Monsoon Festival 2026’, bringing together the breathtaking monsoon landscape of Saputara with the rich tribal heritage, folk traditions, art, cuisine and adventure experiences of Dang.

The festival… pic.twitter.com/d2HRRp1GE5

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Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Sanghavi said Saputara was not merely a hill station but a living representation of Dang’s rich tribal culture, natural diversity and lush green landscape. He said the monsoon further enhances the region’s natural beauty and attracts tourists from across the country.He said tourism development has emerged as an important driver in Gujarat’s broader development strategy under the vision of ‘Viksit Gujarat to Viksit Bharat’. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’, Sanghavi said the state government, under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is giving greater importance to tourism as an engine of economic growth.“Tourism is not merely about travel and leisure,” he said, adding that it plays an important role in strengthening local economies and generating employment and self-employment opportunities.

Sanghavi stated, tourists visiting Saputara directly contribute to several sections of the local economy, including hotels, taxi operators, local guides, women’s self-help groups, artisans, farmers and small traders. The Monsoon Festival also provides an opportunity for local artists, folk singers, dancers and artisans to showcase their talent before visitors.Highlighting the festival’s economic impact, Sanghavi said around 2.61 lakh tourists visited Saputara during the 2025 Monsoon Festival. More than 1.43 lakh visitors also enjoyed boating during the festival last year, while nearly 290 stalls selling local handicrafts and traditional products generated revenue of around Rs1.57 crore.
Sanghavi said the Gujarat government is committed to developing Saputara as a world-class monsoon and eco-tourism destination. Various projects related to tourism infrastructure, public amenities, beautification, signage and experience-based tourism are being undertaken in the region.He also highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen basic infrastructure in the tribal areas of Dang, including education, healthcare, roads, water supply and electricity.

Speaking at the event, Gujarat Minister of State for Tourism Jayram Gamit said the Saputara Monsoon Festival was launched in 2009 under the guidance of the then Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Over the years, he said, the festival has developed into an important platform for showcasing Dang’s tribal culture, folk arts and handicrafts to visitors from across India and abroad.Gamit said the festival was generating new employment and income opportunities for local artists, women, the hospitality sector, transport operators and small traders.He said around 14.67 lakh tourists visited Saputara during 2025, reflecting the hill station’s growing popularity as a tourism destination. Under the ‘Gujarat Tourism Year’, an allocation of Rs3,090 crore has been made for tourism, pilgrimage destinations and the civil aviation sector, which is expected to create further employment and self-employment opportunities for local youth.Gamit also appealed to tourists to visit Saputara with their families and experience its monsoon greenery, tribal culture and the various programmes being organised as part of the festival.

A grand cultural programme followed the inauguration ceremony. Artists from 13 states presented a dance performance based on National Award-winning choreography, while local performers showcased traditional Dangi dances and entertained the audience with their performances.The inauguration ceremony was attended by District Panchayat President Rajesh Gamit, Lok Sabha Whip and Valsad-Dang MP Dhaval Patel, Deputy Chief Whip of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly and Dang MLA Vijay Patel, Tourism Secretary Kuldeep Arya, Tourism Commissioner Vipin Garg, District Collector N.D. Parmar, the District Development Officer, Superintendent of Police, local public representatives, government officials, artists from different states and a large number of tourists.

(State Correspondent)