Catch the rare blooming of karvi flowers in the Western Ghats at a three-day festival in Panchgani. With walks, art and music on the cards, the event promises to make you one with nature
Walk through forest trails in search of the purple blooms
Julie Andrews' character from The Sound of Music would have fit right into the scene that's about to greet those passing through the Western Ghats in the coming days. The blossoming karvi flowers in the region after eight whole years will coat the hillside in purples and blues, making this a sight worth breaking out into song over.
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To be a part of this rare phenomenon, head to Panchgani for the three-day Karvi Festival, which celebrates the blooming of these beauties through not just nature walks, but also art, storytelling and music.
Embrace the outdoors
According to Rudransh Mathur, the festival's organising member, this is a non-commercial event meant to get people to connect with nature. "The festival has been put together by a bunch of Panchgani residents, who will be hosting some of the events at their homes," he says.
Soak in the postcard-worthy scenery at the hill station
Early on the second day, set out on a walking trail through Mahabaleshwar forest. Let Dr Bachulkar, a botany teacher from Kolhapur University, educate you about the wildflowers to be found in the region as you take in the birdsong and the lush carpet of purple around you. And what better way to end the walk than with a picnic breakfast smack dab in the middle of the forest?
Also read: This festival takes you on a trail of flowers that boom once in 7 years
You can then head to Pure Berry's in Panchgani for a honey-tasting session. Mathur shares, "The honey collected by bees from karvi flowers is very unique — it has a different taste and colour, and is also believed to have medicinal properties."
Also on the agenda is a demo by Prashant Sawant, who will show you how to extract honey from the beehive while keeping it intact. On the last day, participants will visit Redstone Eco Centre and Organic Farm and learn about the journey of its owner Mona Patrao, who pioneered organic farming in the region.
For the love of art
The festival kicks off with an art and craft workshop for adults and children. Moreover, there is a whole range of parallel activities planned for kids in the mornings on all three days of the festival.
However, what you must really look forward to is the visit to Devrai Art Village, where you can catch highly skilled tribal craftsmen involved in an art form known as Devrai Rock Dhokra. This ancient technique involves fusing metal with stone to create stunning sculptures. While watching the artists at work, take a sip of the mahua (a local wine) made by them.
Tune in
The highlight of the festival, according to Mathur, is the music concert that will take place in a cave at the edge of a rock face. "Istvan Sky, a spiritual healing singer musician, will be headlining this event," he says, adding that you can also look forward to soulful performances by Prasheen Lodhia (meditative hang drum), Prana (fusion music) and Ink of Bard (Acoustic Indie Rock). With scenic views and music to boot, this is the perfect setting for a retelling of the von Trapp family's adventures, don't you think?
On September 16 to 18
At Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar
Log on to karvifestival.com
Cost Rs 2,500
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