Conversations and Connections: A Day at the Environmental Film Festival in Reckongpeo

Last weekend, I traveled to Kinnaur to participate in the Environmental Film Festival organised by our media partner, Zed.tells, in collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh State Government, Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, and ALT EFF 2024. Targeted at audiences in and around Kinnaur, the festival’s central theme revolved around highlighting the state of the Indian environment with a focus on the Himalayan belt. It sought to use short films, art, and interactions with environmentally-minded groups like the State Forest Department, Healing Himalayas, Zed.tells, and our organization, the Saryan Vigyan Foundation, as a platform for reflection. The event showcased films that addressed global environmental issues while encouraging participants to consider how our everyday actions as ordinary citizens contribute to environmental degradation—and how small, meaningful changes may help reverse this trend.

After an exhausting 12-hour bus journey from Chandigarh to Kinnaur, I faced the monumental task of preparing our stall for the next day. This involved carefully unpacking and arranging herbarium specimens, which we planned to display both at our stall and at the art exhibition. The specimens served as an example of how scientists globally study and classify plants, offering our audience an insightful introduction to the scientific method and its global significance. Alongside this, we prepared banners and flyers promoting our summer internship program, designed to engage local college students interested in science and technology in collaborative research projects. To add a personal touch, we included giveaways like stickers featuring environmental messages and designs, offering visitors a small keepsake to remember us by.

Thankfully, I had the invaluable support of our interns—Mansi, Yogita, and Kunkit—which made these tasks less daunting. Together, they worked meticulously to stitch herbarium specimens for framing, use digitised documents to identify and fill in plant names for specimen tags, and refine our pitch for the stall. Watching them, I couldn’t help but feel proud of how much they had grown in a matter of a few months—from shy, hesitant interns into confident contributors. It was heartening to see their enthusiasm for the event and their eagerness to share their experiences with peers and the community the next day.

On the chilly morning of November 24, we set out for Bachat Bhawan in Reckongpeo at 8 AM. The bone-chilling cold made the journey feel even more challenging, especially since driving on narrow, steep hill roads is no small feat. Lacking the confidence to navigate the mountain curves, I was relieved when Rupesh Bhaiya stepped in to help. Despite it being a Sunday, he generously offered to drive us, even putting his own plans on hold. By 8:30 AM, we arrived at the venue and began tying up loose ends. Shortly after, the event organisers arrived and assigned us our stall and exhibition space. The event was scheduled to start at 10:30 AM, but to our surprise, visitors began trickling in as early as 9:30 AM, braving the biting winds to explore the film festival. Even more remarkable was the punctuality of district officials, many of whom arrived before 10 AM—challenging my assumption that Indian Standard Time always includes a 1–2 hour delay. Their early arrival added to the sense of enthusiasm and energy for the day ahead.

Arrived at the venue, Bachat Bhawan in Reckongpeo, Kinnaur

Yogita giving final touches to our stall at the Environmental Film Festival, Reckongpeo

People of all ages stopped by our setup, curious to learn what we were doing and why. Their questions sparked meaningful conversations about the scope and purpose of our research in Kinnaur, a small tribal district. Many asked why reputed government agencies like CSIR institutions, IHBT, or HPU weren’t undertaking similar initiatives. Others inquired if we were collaborating with locals who had already documented the medicinal value of native plants. Some wondered why our focus wasn’t solely on medicinal plants, given their obvious benefits for local communities and humanity as a whole. Skepticism wasn’t absent; a few participants questioned whether we had coined terms like “plant diversity darkspot” simply for attention, as they were more familiar with concepts like global biodiversity hotspots. To our surprise (and theirs), we even managed to answer an impromptu quiz by our audience on the exact dimensions of a herbarium sheet—rounded to the nearest centimeter!

The most insightful moments however, came from conversations with some community elders. They shared how winters in Kinnaur have changed drastically, reminiscing about the knee-deep snow that once blanketed the region by this time in November just a few decades ago. Many acknowledged the role of monocultures, chemical pesticides and fertilisers, and deforestation—often to make way for hydroelectric power plants and road widening projects—in disrupting natural climate cycles. Thankfully, we didn’t encounter any climate change deniers—it would have been painfully ironic to meet them at a film festival dedicated to the environment. Instead, the discussions were candid, thought-provoking, and reflected a growing awareness of the state of our planet.

Other stalls at the event included one by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, which showcased the government’s efforts to prevent and control wildfires. With over 2,700 forest fires reported in Himachal between April and June 2024—the highest since 2007—the urgency of their work was clear. Forest officials demonstrated advanced GIS-equipped alert systems that use thermal cameras and heat sensors to quickly detect and pinpoint fire sources. Combined with an SMS-based network, these systems enable rapid response and relief efforts. Officials urged local communities to remain vigilant, noting that the fire season now extends well into November, a troubling sign of changing climate patterns. In addition, the Forest Department highlighted their wildlife rescue projects, emphasising the herculean teamwork involved in safely rescuing and rehabilitating animals like Himalayan brown bears that often stray into settlements. Through visuals and stories, they offered a glimpse into the challenges and dedication required to preserve the region's wildlife.

The stall by Healing Himalayas highlighted their grassroots initiative where they, with the help of dedicated volunteers, work to collect irresponsibly disposed garbage across the Himalayan region. Over the years, their efforts have mobilized communities and led to landmark rulings by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Himachal Pradesh High Court mandating waste segregation at source by commercial entities in Himachal Pradesh. Mr. Rahul Suman Negi presented their journey passionately, showing how simply segregating wet and dry waste at source has revived a circular economy and improved the livelihoods of safai mitras (sanitation workers) in the district. Their plans to expand these initiatives across the state were inspiring and showcased the power of grassroots action to create systemic change.

Zed.tells also displayed their remarkable work in preserving the cultural and natural heritage of Kinnaur. Through captivating stories and visuals, they have been reviving interest in forgotten folk tales, food and culture to preserve the Kinnaura identity. They also offered beautifully crafted bookmarks, postcards, pins, and magnets celebrating Kinnaur’s rich heritage—available for purchase to support their efforts.

While I could not find time to leave our stall, our interns managed to sneak away briefly to explore the art exhibition and watch some of the short films. One film that particularly resonated with them was Shera, a touching story about a young boy from a Himalayan village who, unlike everyone else, has never seen the elusive leopard named Shera. The film follows his journey with a friend to finally spot the leopard before he moves to the city. They noted its realistic portrayal of how village children often value experiences over material things—a theme that felt personal as they prepare for their own transitions. They also appreciated a short documentary on climate change in the Himalayas, gaining insights they enthusiastically discussed over dinner. I managed to attend the short quiz organised towards the end, where the Saryan Vigyan Foundation sponsored herbarium specimens of local plants as prizes. By 4 PM, most stalls had packed up, but the audience’s energy and engagement remained palpable—a testament to the event's success.

Some stills from the art exhibition

We ended the day at a local cafe, The Little Chef, over bowls of tomato soup and plates of momos, reflecting on the highlights of the festival. Despite the long bus journey and rushed preparations, we all agreed it was a rewarding experience. Special thanks were due to the Zed.tells team—Pramiti, Nicky, Kamal Jeet, and others—whose seamless coordination made everything possible despite their packed schedules.

(L-R): Nicky (from zed.tells), me, Yogita, Mansi and Kunkit in Peo after the event

The next morning, I boarded the bus back to Chandigarh, my mind still buzzing with the conversations and connections from the event. While this blog only scratches the surface, I look forward to future opportunities to delve deeper into meaningful discussions about the urgent environmental challenges we face today, and their far-reaching impact, particularly on regions beyond India’s urban centers.

Dogs I met in Ralli and Tapri on my way to Chandigarh

If you too are interested in learning more about the pressing issues of global warming, climate change, and pollution—and how these challenges affect our daily lives in ways we may not have considered—consider visiting the alt eff (https://www.alteff.in/) website. They offer a selection of informative films on these critical topics, available for viewing with a small donation. By doing so, you’ll also support the filmmakers, environmentalists, civil society organisations, social workers, and everyday individuals who are tirelessly working to address these challenges.