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Festival of Lights with Local Culture

Solan Kuthar, India

Notes

Diwali or Festival of Lights is a national festival celebrated throughout the country with lot of zeal for 5 days. This main festival, falling on 8th November, 2026, is celebrated with a great fervor just like Christmas and goes on for 5 days. Diwali is followed by other local events like Budi Diwali, viswakarma puja, Bhaiya Dooj etc. In North India, as it is believed that it was on Diwali that Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya after killing the Demon king Ravana in Sri Lanka.

In partnership with

RUCHI NGO with Local Council


Description of the Work

This camp is a great opportunity to learn and experience Indian culture and understand the diversity and unity it stands for. Therefore, be prepared to enjoy festivities and enjoy leisurely walks with easy pace and interacting with local communities. Besides, you shall be participating in our ongoing humanitarian actions like Non formal education, women empowerment initiatives, environment conservation, waste upcycling, organic farming etc and interacting with local people on daily basis leading to the festival.

With this project we aim to encourage cross cultural exchanges and provide a deeper insight of our culture. Months of October and November host two prominent Indian festivals of national importance. The dates are decided on yearly basis as per Hindu calendar. These camps are specially organized for those who are interested in Indian history and culture. This period is also supposed to be auspicious for marriages. Besides local festivals, volunteers will have an opportunity to learn of Hindu traditions.

Sorry, the project coordinates are not precise enough to be shown on a map.


Accommodation & Food

Volunteers will stay at peaceful RUCHI campus on twin/triple sharing basis. Bed and beddings are provided. Simple basic amenities will be available. Though cooked authentic Indian vegetarian meals will be served volunteers are expected to assist the cook.


Location & Leisure

Kuthar is a large village growing into a township where most of the major district level festivals are held. It is 50 km north of Chandigarh city and 70 kms from Shimla town. Baddi offers a number of treks to tourists and a good majestic view of range of mountains. The economy of the area depends on agriculture and industries.

The volunteers will have opportunity to visit Kasauli hill station or Hanuman Temple in Shimla, the Naldehra Golf Club and a local zoo or the Rock Garden in Chandigarh.


Requirements

Interest in experiencing other cultures and participate with local communities in local/national festivals.


Appointment

Kalka


Host Organization

Rural Centre for Human Interests (known as RUCHI, which means ‘interest’ in Hindi) came into being as a non-profit, voluntary organization in October 1980, set up in the Himalayan foothills of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. RUCHI is legally registered under Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860. Presently, RUCHI head office is located in a new complex called the Technology Resource Centre (TRC). The office a centre of technology transfer came into force, in the year 1994 as an extension program of CAPART, of the Ministry of Rural Development. The objective is to promote, develop and modify the rural technologies. Situated in the hills of Solan district in Bandh village, this centre has been the hub of all activities. RUCHI has focused through the years on promoting sustainable anthropocentric development through empowerment – by providing assistance and technical support to the underprivileged, showing them the way to minimize dependence and thus attain a better life – rather than just through charity. RUCHI’s founders felt there was a need for a committed workforce to initiate the process of development at the grassroots level, encouraging individual and community participation in the process.