Gandhinagar: Gujarat is a festival-loving state that celebrates its diverse culture with every event. Located in the Dang district and known as Gujarat’s Cherrapunji, Saputara comes alive during the monsoon season, attracting an unprecedented influx of tourists to this scenic hill station. The annual Saputara Monsoon Festival holds special appeal for visitors, boosting local employment alongside tourism. This year, the Saputara Monsoon Festival will be held from July 26 to August 17, 2025, captivating visitors with its varied attractions. Initiated by then-Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the festival has become a major draw for domestic and international tourists.

The festival has become a medium for promoting tribal culture, natural beauty, and local traditions. Tourists from not only Gujarat but also other states flock to participate in and witness this festival.

The Saputara Monsoon Festival, held at the beautiful hill station of Saputara, is distinguished by offering tourists a glimpse of Dang’s rich culture, customs, traditional cuisine, lifestyle, and dance forms, alongside showcasing diverse cultural traditions. For the first time in 2025, under the theme of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat’, a Grand Folk Carnival Parade has been organized, featuring over 350 artists from 13 states—Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Odisha. These artists will present vibrant folk traditions with traditional props during the parade. Additionally, this year activities like Rain Dance and Nature Walk are also being introduced.

The ‘Grand Classical and Folk Performance’ at the Saputara Monsoon Festival will feature over 80 artists from 13 states—Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Kerala, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Assam—showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage through classical and folk traditions. Other highlights include performances by renowned Gujarati artists like Geetaben Rabari, Parth Oza, and Raag Mehta, as well as Kerala’s famous Thekkinkadu Attam Musical Band.

Additionally, tourists will enjoy Tableau Shows across Saputara, along with events like the Sunday Cyclothon, Dahi Handi competition, Janmashtami celebrations, and a Mini Marathon on Independence Day, which will highlight cultural and patriotic fervour.

The influx of tourists during the Saputara Monsoon Festival has boosted employment opportunities and income sources in Dang and surrounding areas, leading to an improved standard of living. To familiarize tourists with Dang’s local culture and provide employment to local artists, various activities are organized during the festival. This year, cultural programs will be organised daily by local artists at Saputara Main Circle, Governor Hill, and Saputara Lake Boat Club. Additionally, the Main Dome Events Area will host a Tribal Food Festival, Tribal Tattoo Workshop, Tribal Art and Craft Stalls, Warli Painting Workshop, folk music, magic shows, and other activities, ensuring a memorable experience for tourists.

Saputara’s pleasant climate and natural beauty have always been a top choice for tourists. As a result of the Monsoon Festival organized by the state’s Tourism Corporation, the number of tourists visiting Dang has been steadily increasing. In 2022, Saputara welcomed 8.16 lakh visitors, which rose to 11.13 lakh in 2023 and 11.67 lakh in 2024. For Dang district as a whole, 10.40 lakh tourists visited in 2022, 22.40 lakh in 2023, and 26.91 lakh in 2024, an official statement said. Deshgujarat