Royal Enfield Opens Second Edition of ‘Journeying Across The Himalayas’ Festival in New Delhi

Royal Enfield Social Mission has opened the second edition of Journeying Across The Himalayas, its annual multidisciplinary festival dedicated to celebrating and safeguarding the cultural and natural heritage of the Himalayas. The opening evening, held on 4 December at Travancore Palace, brought together artists, mountain communities, partners and audiences for a night of storytelling, performance, and shared cultural expression.

This year’s curatorial theme, Ours To Tell, guided the inaugural programme, which began with opening remarks and a special address, followed by the launch of The Great Himalayan Exploration – The Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Eastern Himalayas. The book, a UNESCO × Royal Enfield project, was introduced by Bidisha Dey, Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation, and Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia. They were joined by folk artist Kuvelu Tetseo from Nagaland, Kunzang Wangmo of Ladakh, and rider-researcher Maral Yazarloo.

The evening continued with a dialogue titled Ours To Tell: Reclaiming Himalayan Narratives, featuring Chiki Sarkar, Jamling Tenzing Norgay, Kelly Dorjee and Rigzin Wangmo Lachic. Performances by the Tetseo Sisters and Jungle Vibes followed, before a final collaborative set by Joi Barua, Lou Majaw and Rudy Wallang. The night concluded with curated dinner and cocktail pairings by Chef Doma Wang.

Speaking about the opening of the festival, Bidisha Dey, Executive Director of Eicher Group Foundation, said, “Journeying Across The Himalayas is a space for communities and collaborators from across the region to share their stories in their own words. With our curatorial theme ‘Ours To Tell’, we continue to bring the region together through creative expression, dialogue, and celebration—reflecting our long-term commitment to partner with 100 Himalayan communities.”

The festival presents immersive exhibitions, installations, culinary experiences, workshops and performances co-created with Himalayan communities. Audiences can explore Ladakhi pashmina landscapes in Unwoven/Spoken, listen to soundscapes and seasonal rituals in Echoes of the East, and engage with the living learning spaces of theHub of Many Heart(h)s. Programming also includes youth-led contemporary explorations through fellowships supported by Royal Enfield Social Mission, helmet art installations and workshops by Helmets for India, film screenings with DIFF on the Road, and a Himalayan Bazaar featuring creators and artisans. Chouka, the food and beverage area, offers Himalayan cooking rooted in regional traditions.

A prominent visual highlight is Ri Gyancha, the snow leopard installation perched atop the Travancore Palace roof, presented as a symbolic guardian of the highlands and a tribute to Ladakh’s “jewel of the mountain”.

The festival runs until 10 December 2025, presenting a wide range of programming centred on cultural innovation, heritage, sustainability, responsible travel and performance—co-created with communities and collaborators from across the Himalayan region.