Jaipur, 11 December 2025: The majestic world of tigers—symbolizing the heartbeat of nature and the soul of culture—came alive at Shilpgram, Jawahar Kala Kendra, as the Jaipur Tiger Festival was inaugurated today. The four-day festival, organized by the Rajasthan Heritage, Art & Cultural Foundation in collaboration with Jawahar Kala Kendra, runs from 11 to 14 December, offering a vibrant mix of art, wildlife awareness, storytelling, and cultural performances.
The inauguration was graced by the Hon’ble Governor of Rajasthan, Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, along with Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, member of the former royal family of Udaipur, and Pawan Arora, CEO of First India News, as special guests. Dr. S.S. Agrawal, Chairman of Rajasthan Hospital, and festival founder-patron Dhirendra Godha were also present. JTF President Sanjay Khawad, Vice President Sarveksh Agrawal, and Secretary Anand Agrawal attended the ceremony.
The Governor inaugurated the festival by cutting the ribbon and toured the various stalls, including exhibitions of over 150 tiger photographs, paintings, live sketching, and other cultural displays. Highlighting Rajasthan’s rich legacy of devotion, valor, and environmental stewardship, he stressed the importance of tiger conservation: “The survival of many other wild species depends on the existence of the tiger, making its conservation extremely important. While the government is taking extensive measures, public participation is equally essential,” he said.
Eleven individuals were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation: Dr. Mahesh Bagdi, M.D. Parashar, Dhiraj Kapoor, Ram Gopal, Sanjeev Sankhla, ACF Vishnu Gupta, Ranger Jitendra Singh, Timmy Kumar, Dr. Uma Joshi, Rajesh Pahadia, and Sunit Ghildiyal.
Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar spoke about the significance of wildlife in ancient scriptures and highlighted the contributions of erstwhile rulers in forest conservation, noting that Rajasthan is a land where both humans and animals have historically made sacrifices for their homeland. The first day concluded with a spectacular dance performance by internationally acclaimed folk artist Rekha Parihar.
The seventh edition of the festival features 53 stalls, including representations from Rajasthan’s five major tiger reserves, a postage stamp collection by India Post, virtual shows, storytelling sessions including Panchatantra tales, literary discussions, cultural performances, and an open stage for artists.
Friday Highlights (12 December 2025):
- Morning storytelling sessions by Neeraj Chandra, Uma Joshi, and RPS Siddhant Sharma
- Ethical Safari poem and performance by Aarunya Prashar
- Musical performance “Percussion Pulse” by Darsh Peswani
- Evening poetry and musical showcase by young artist Raahgir from 5:00 to 7:30 PM
The Jaipur Tiger Festival continues to blend art, culture, and wildlife awareness, celebrating the grandeur of Rajasthan’s heritage while promoting the crucial cause of tiger conservation.