The paper points out reasons for the decline in trends of traditional cultural practices and agrobiodiversity in Uttarakhand, a mountainous state located in the Himalayan region of India. To conserve agrobiodiversity and traditional culture the state government has actively supported the celebration of “Harela” festival in educational institutions across the state. The observance of the “Harela” festival has significantly contributed to the preservation of local traditional eco-friendly socio-cultural practices and aided in the conservation of natural resources.
The current investigation relies on a comprehensive review of literature obtained from the library, internet sources, government directives published by the state government periodically, as well as conversations with students and their parents regarding matters about the observance of “Harela” in public spaces and private residences.
The observance of the “Harela” festival has not only contributed to the preservation of local traditional eco-friendly socio-cultural practices but also aided in the conservation of natural resources such as soil and agricultural germplasm.
The state government’s direction to educational institutions to promote the Harela festival through activities like planting trees and other nature-friendly initiatives aims to raise awareness and foster a strong connection to traditional culture while also instilling a sense of duty to safeguard nature and biodiversity.
The paper outlines the importance of the government’s impetus to promote traditional cultural practices, which are intricately linked to the popularisation of the festivals and biodiversity as well.
