Haldwani lit up on Sunday, 25 October 2026, as the Kumaon Dwar Mahotsav drew crowds to the city that sits at the very doorstep of the Kumaon hills — and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami used the occasion to weave together folk heritage and hard-edged governance in one address. Speaking as chief guest at the festival, Dhami greeted attendees and praised the organisers for their efforts to preserve and promote Uttarakhand's rich folk culture, traditions, and performing arts. He singled out the Vaidehi Cultural Education and Art Foundation for connecting younger generations to the state's heritage through folk singing and dance. 'Folk artists are giving new identity to the culture and traditions of the state and carrying them to the country and the world,' he said.

Haldwani as cultural crossroads of Kumaon

Dhami described Haldwani not merely as an administrative centre but as a living gateway — kumaon ka pravesh dwar — for the hill society of the region. He said the city provides a wide platform for Kumaon's cultural heritage, traditional lifestyle, and folk arts, and that the large turnout at the festival was proof that residents remain deeply connected to their cultural roots. The CM named several folk forms that define Uttarakhand's artistic identity: the Chholia dance, Jhora, Chanchri, Barda Naati, and Nyoli in dance; Beda geet, Mangal geet, and Chaiti geet in song. He also highlighted traditional instruments — dhol, damaun, turri, bhankora, and ransingha — as sonic markers of Uttarakhand's mountain soul. Digital technology and social media, he said, were now carrying this folk music far beyond state borders.

UCC, anti-conversion law, and the identity-governance link

The festival stage then became a policy platform. Dhami credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for several decisions he said were taken in Uttarakhand's interest, and recounted the state government's own legislative record: implementing the Uniform Civil Code — making Uttarakhand the first Indian state to codify personal laws uniformly — enacting a strict anti-conversion law, enforcing a riot-prevention law, and taking steps toward a stronger land-ownership law. He also cited the anti-cheating law as a measure to protect young people's futures by ensuring transparency and fairness in government recruitment exams. 'The government will not step back from taking big and necessary decisions for Uttarakhand,' he declared, adding that the state's interest is above power, public interest above politics, and national interest above vote-bank politics.

Rampur Tiraha, Ajit Doval, and the Ankita Bhandari case

Dhami invoked the 1994 Rampur Tiraha firing incident — in which statehood-movement protesters were shot — saying the sacrifice of those activists remains etched in public memory. He argued that this historical context makes any comments touching on the dignity of Uttarakhand's people especially sensitive. Referring to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Dhami said that political statements about those dedicated to national security must be made with due regard for national interest and the decorum of public life. On the Ankita Bhandari case, he said delivering justice to a daughter is a serious social responsibility, emphasised that judicial process, facts, and evidence must take priority, and noted that the courts have already handed down sentences to the convicted while bail-related proceedings continue. He called on all parties to respect the due process of law. From folk songs of the high Himalayas to some of the most contested legislation in India, Dhami's address at the Kumaon Dwar Mahotsav made clear that for Uttarakhand's government, culture and governance are two sides of the same mountain coin — and neither is staying quiet.