Jaipur Bird Festival 2026 Opens with a Grand Celebration of Birds and Wetlands

Jaipur, January 2026 : With a renewed commitment to protecting wetlands and reviving the vibrant chorus of birds in the skies, the Jaipur Bird Festival–2026 was inaugurated with great enthusiasm on Saturday at Kanota Camp Resort, Jamdoli (Jaipur). Based on the theme “Join the Celebration of Wings & Wetlands,” the two-day state-level festival set a colorful tone on its very first day, blending nature love, conservation awareness, and creative expression.

Organised by the Green People Society (Jaipur Chapter) in collaboration with the State Forest Department and WWF India, the festival was inaugurated in the presence of conservation experts, academicians, students, and nature lovers.

Vikram Singh (Retired IAS), Vice President of Green People Society and Convenor of the Jaipur Bird Festival, said the event is inspired by the Udaipur Bird Festival, which has earned national recognition over the past 12 years, and will prove to be an important milestone for nature conservation initiatives in Jaipur.

An engaging first day filled with education, sensitivity, and creativity:
The main session on the opening day featured a nature quiz for students, painting competitions, bird photography, butterfly and painting exhibitions, a philately (postage stamp) exhibition, a raptors exhibition, and a state-of-the-art VR experience. These activities aimed to instill awareness and a sense of responsibility towards birds and wetlands among children and youth.

Children introduced to over 25 bird species:
During birdwatching sessions, experts including Dr. Satish Sharma, Vikram Singh, Rahul Bhatnagar, Virendra Singh Bedsa, Manoj Kuleshtra, Dr. Kamlesh Sharma, and Nirmal Menaria introduced children to more than 25 bird species such as shovelers, spot-billed ducks, grey herons, egrets, cormorants, grebes, coots, parakeets, and mynas, sharing interesting insights about their habitat, food, migration, and breeding.

Live butterfly life cycle captivates young minds:
Butterfly expert Mukesh Panwar from Dungarpur showcased live life cycles of five butterfly species while sharing information on Rajasthan’s prominent butterflies, sparking special curiosity among children. Philately expert Pushpa Khamesra from Udaipur displayed over 2,000 bird-themed postage stamps from India and abroad, conveying a strong conservation message. Quiz and painting competitions were also organised.

Photography, painting, live art, and kirigami enthrall visitors:
Exhibitions of photographs and paintings based on Rajasthan’s major bird species attracted wide attention. Artists Santkumar, Shivani, Mehak Bhuria, and Ayushi Sharma presented live paintings, while Vivek Tomar and Anuj Tomar engaged children through origami and kirigami art, creating attractive bird figures from paper without using scissors or glue.

Bird tattoos bring children closer to nature:
Invited tattoo artists painted colorful bird tattoos on children’s cheeks and foreheads, adding fun while strengthening their bond with nature.

Workshops and state-level deliberations:
Special training workshops were held for around 30 resource persons and a writing workshop for 15 emerging writers. A state-level conference also took place, with representatives from the Forest, Environment, and Tourism Departments, WWF India, NGOs, academicians, and experts holding in-depth discussions on conservation-related issues.

Direct engagement with wetlands on Sunday:
On the second day, participants will visit Sambhar Salt Lake, Barkheda–Chandlai–Muhana region, Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur), Tal Chhapar Sanctuary (Churu), and Ranthambore or Sariska Tiger Reserve for direct interaction with nature.

Participation of renowned experts from across the country:
Eminent personalities including HOF PK Upadhyay, senior ornithologist Dr. Asad Rahmani, WWF India CEO Ravi Singh, retired CS S. Ahmed, retired IAS Giriraj Kushwaha, Umesh Kumar, Malvika Panwar, Upendra Kumar, retired IPS Bahadur Singh, Wildlife Board member Rajpal Singh, nature enthusiast Dinesh Durani, Padma Shri photographer Anup Shah, Bollywood actor Rahul Singh, owl expert Dr. Prachi Mehta, raptor expert Ratul Saha, Ajay Gupta, and environmental expert Dinesh Srivastava from Uttar Pradesh are participating in the festival.

French tourists join the celebration:
French tourist Baudouin Dupont visited the festival along with his wife Odile after learning about it in Jaipur. They expressed happiness at the enthusiasm shown by children and remarked that conserving birds and wetlands is not just about protecting the environment, but about safeguarding the future of coming generations.