Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 6: The fourth edition of Tawi Festival to celebrate heritage, environment and art is being held from March 6 to 15, 2026.
The 10 day event will be a vibrant celebration of art, culture and intellectual dialogue with leading scholars, artists, environmentalists and cultural practitioners.
The festival is being organized by Amar Mahal Museum and Library (AMML) in collaboration with Kala Kendra and IIT Jammu and it will be inaugurated by Dr. Karan Singh on March 13 at Amar Mahal Palace.
The opening day will feature a seminar on ‘Environment and Heritage’ including a keynote address by eminent ecologist Dr. Rajesh Thadani and expert deliberations on biodiversity, sacred groves and heritage trees of the region.
The Art Camp and Exhibitions at Kala Kendra will be jointly inaugurated by Dr. Karan Singh and B.M Sharma, Principal Secretary, Culture.
A handout stated that the festival activities begin earlier today with a workshop on ‘Elements of Basohli Miniature Painting’ by noted artist Sohan Singh Billawaria at Amar Mahal. A curtain raiser on March 12 at IIT Jammu will feature an address by Dr. Karan Singh followed by an interaction with students.
A major highlight this year is a special exhibition of photo essays by senior journalists from March 13 to 23, documenting the devastating floods in the region and the impact of war in border areas.
On March 14, discussions under the theme ‘Literature and Ideas’ will bring together eminent writers and poets from the borderlands.
The evening will conclude with a music recital by Vijay Singh Sambyal (Rangeelay Thakur) and students.
The festival will culminate on March 15 with a cultural Mela at the Amar Mahal lawns featuring crafts, organic cuisine, pottery, block printing and books in local languages and folk performances.
A special concluding session will host a discussion on ‘A Statesman and a Seeker: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Dr Karan Singh’, the authorised biography by Prof. Harbans Singh.
The session will be conducted in the presence of Dr. Karan Singh with Prof. Rekha Choudhary in conversation with the author and Dr. Karan Singh.
The festival is being supported by the Hari Tara Charitable Trust, Jammu.
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