Folk music, heritage and hope: Inside Uttarakhand’s Pokhari village transformation

Nestled in the hills of Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar district, Pokhari village came alive during the ‘Musical Village Festival,' an initiative celebrating local culture while drawing attention to migration from hill regions. The festival transformed the village into a vibrant cultural hub with folk music, traditional art, local cuisine, and heritage-themed spaces aimed at reviving rural life.

Organizer Varun Chandola said the idea emerged from witnessing people gradually leave their villages in search of education and jobs, while still maintaining emotional ties to their ancestral homes. As part of the initiative, abandoned traditional houses, known as baakhlis, are being restored and converted into themed home-stays to attract visitors and reconnect people with village life.

Residents and visitors praised the effort, calling it a strong example of community-led cultural preservation. The festival highlights how creativity, heritage, and collective action can help inspire development and encourage people to reconnect with their roots.