KĀPHAL FESTIVAL 2026
A Confluence of Culture and Conservation
The Kāphal Festival 2026 is a landmark eco-cultural gathering rooted in the sacred landscape of Sārī and Devriyātāl. Organized under the Himalayan Folk Festival initiative, this three-day event is designed as a direct response to the ecological and cultural challenges facing the Uttarakhand region, such as forest fires, waste tourism, and cultural dilution.
Registration
Pre-Festival Residential Workshop for Villagers
Dates: 18–23 March 2026
A 5–6 day community program conducted in collaboration with Waste Warriors Society.
- Waste management training
- Zero-waste systems setup
- Volunteer orientation
- Community clean-up drives
- Sustainability awareness workshops
Festival Visitor Registration
Single Day Pass – ₹500- Festival kit
- Access to all performances and community sessions at Bhyoon Dhungu Main Area
- Yoga session
Valid for 20–21–22 March 2026
- Access to all performances
- Community sessions
- Yoga sessions
- Festival activities
Kāphal Forest Run – Half Marathon
Date: 21 March 2026
Participation Fee: ₹1000 per participant (All categories)
Categories- 21 KM Half Marathon
- 10 KM Forest Run
- 5 KM Fun Run
- Race bib and timing
- Participation certificate
- Refreshments and hydration support
- Festival kit
- Access to festival activities on 21 March
Festival access for other days requires a separate festival ticket.
Forest Run Accommodation Packages
2 Nights / 3 Days – ₹3,999- Check-in: 20 March
- Check-out: 22 March
- Shared accommodation
- All meals
- Festival access: 21–22 March
- Check-in: 20 March
- Check-out: 23 March
- Shared accommodation
- All meals
- Festival access: 21–22 March
- Check-in: 19 March
- Check-out: 23 March
- Shared accommodation
- All meals
- Festival access: 20–21–22 March
Forest Run Prize Money
21 KM Half Marathon (Men & Women – Equal Prize)- 1st Prize — ₹11,000 + Medal + Certificate
- 2nd Prize — ₹9,100 + Medal + Certificate
- 3rd Prize — ₹7,100 + Medal + Certificate
- 1st Prize — ₹7,100 + Medal + Certificate
- 2nd Prize — ₹5,100 + Medal + Certificate
- 3rd Prize — ₹3,100 + Medal + Certificate
- 1st Prize — ₹3,100 + Medal + Certificate
- 2nd Prize — ₹2,100 + Medal + Certificate
- 3rd Prize — ₹1,100 + Medal + Certificate
All finishers will receive participation certificates.
Forest Ride Enduro – Kāphal MTB Challenge
A mountain biking challenge through the forest trails of Sari Village celebrating sustainable adventure and Himalayan eco-tourism.
Ride Date: 22 March 2026
Ride Only Package – ₹2100- Participation in MTB challenge
- Festival access on 22 March
- Check-in: 21 March
- Check-out: 23 March
- Ride participation
- 2 nights stay
- All meals
- Festival access: 21–22 March
- Check-in: 20 March
- Check-out: 23 March
- Ride participation
- 3 nights stay
- All meals
- Festival access: 21–22 March
- Check-in: 19 March
- Check-out: 23 March
- Ride participation
- 4 nights stay
- All meals
- Festival access: 20–21–22 March
MTB Challenge Prize
- 1st Prize — ₹21,000
- 2nd Prize — ₹15,000
- 3rd Prize — ₹11,000
Photography & Birding Workshop
A 3-day immersive photography and birding workshop exploring biodiversity in the Rudraprayag and Chopta region. Conducted in association with Nikon.
Focus- Wildlife photography techniques
- Birding observation skills
- Camera settings and field practice
- Himalayan ecology
- 22 March — Arrival
- 23–24 March — Field workshop
- 25 March — Closing and departure
- Stay and meals
- Workshop sessions
- Festival access (22 March)
- Festival kit
- Certificate
- Astro session
- 19 March — Arrival
- 20–22 March — Festival
- 23–24 March — Workshop
- 25 March — Departure
- Festival access for three days
- Photography workshop
- Stay and meals
- Festival kit
- Certificate
- Astro session
Festival Schedule
- 6:30 – 8:00 AM — Yoga Session
- 10:00 AM — Art & Craft Activities
- 11:00 – 12:30 PM — Traditional Tug of War (Rassa Kassi)
- 1:00 – 2:00 PM — Opening Facilitation Ceremony
- 2:30 – 4:30 PM — Environmental & Community Panel Discussion
- 4:30 – 5:15 PM — Rameshwari Bhatt
- 5:15 – 6:15 PM — Dhari Devi Band
- 8:00 – 10:00 PM — Astro Observation & Night Sky Workshop
- 6:00 – 8:00 AM — Yoga Session
- 6:30 AM – 10:30 Noon — Kāphal Half Marathon
- 10:00 AM — Art & Craft Activities
- 2:00 – 3:00 PM — Facilitation Ceremony
- 3:15 – 4:15 PM — Kavi Sammelan
- 4:30 – 5:00 PM — Uniyal
- 5:15 – 6:15 PM — Sankalp Khetwal
- 8:00 – 10:00 PM — Astro Observation & Workshop
- 6:30 – 8:00 AM — Yoga Session
- 7:00 AM – 12:00 Noon — Forest Ride Enduro (MTB Challenge)
- 10:00 AM — Art & Craft Activities
- 1:30 – 2:30 PM — Facilitation & Acknowledgement Ceremony
- 2:30 – 4:00 PM — Pahadi Bois
- 4:15 – 6:15 PM — Grand Finale – Pandavaas
