"Ahimsa means compassion, which is what veganism is about," says Kunatal Joisher, who has been vegan for 17 years and has climbed Mt Everest twice (2016 and 2019). He has been curating the sessions since the first edition. "I started preparing for my journey to the Everest in 2009 and the biggest benefits of being vegan was the advantage of a great gastro system and faster recovery period," he says.

You also have to keep in mind that just because you're vegan doesn't mean you're eating healthy. It's about eating whole grains like whole wheat instead of maida, bajra and jowar — organic produce, which will also be available at the fest. "The festival is based on what ahimsa entails, which is "do not harm". We are associating with NGOs working for animal welfare and the environment," says Rupa Shah, co-founder. Get your kids to participate in competitions and attend a parenting session on bringing up kids vegan.
Here are five cool things to check out at the fest.