Chief Secretary Inaugurates Teej Festival 2025 at Bikaner House

Jaipur : Rajasthan Chief Secretary and Chief Resident Commissioner Mr. Sudhansh Pant formally inaugurated the Rajasthani Teej Festival 2025 at Bikaner House, New Delhi, on Wednesday. The week-long celebration, running until July 30, will feature handmade product stalls by Rajeevika and RUDA, along with a food festival.

At the inaugural event, Mr. Pant said the festival offers Rajasthanis residing in Delhi and Delhiites at large a unique opportunity to experience the vibrant Rajasthani culture, including its heritage, handicrafts, traditional music, dance, cuisine, and artistic expressions. He also highlighted the launch of a special ‘Rajsakhi App/Portal’ by the government to promote Rajasthani handicrafts online, enabling local artisans to showcase and sell their products globally. He appreciated the role of Rajeevika and RUDA, who, through self-help groups, are effectively promoting Rajasthani crafts across India.

Resident Commissioner Mr. Jogaram noted that the Teej Festival celebrates Rajasthan’s rich cultural heritage and traditions, providing a platform for artisans to exhibit their exceptional craftsmanship.

Mrs. Neha Giri, State Mission Director of Rajeevika, added that this handicraft fair is not just an exhibition, but a celebration of the skills and creativity of Rajasthan’s women artisans, offering them a platform to reach wider audiences and promote livelihoods.

Additional Resident Commissioner Mrs. Anju Omprakash announced that from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, the festival will host varied events, including:

• Mehendi Ramp Walk, Rajasthani Dance and Singing Competitions on July 24
• Lemon Spoon Race and Tug of War on July 28
• Kho-Kho and Turban Tying Competition on July 29

Renowned Designer Ruma Devi Ties Rakhi to Chief Secretary

During the event, well-known fashion designer Mrs. Ruma Devi tied a rakhi to Chief Secretary Mr. Pant, extending her greetings for Teej and Raksha Bandhan.

Rajasthan Tourism Hosts Cultural Evening

Following the inauguration, Rajasthan Tourism Department organized a cultural evening. Assistant Director Mr. Chhatrapal Yadav shared that folk artists from across Rajasthan performed traditional acts including:

• Mashak Vadan
• Khartal Vadan
• Rim Bhavai Dance
• Mayur Dance
• Phoolon ki Holi
• Chari Dance
• Ghoomar Dance
• Bhapang Vadan

He also announced that more cultural evenings will be held on July 27 and 28.

Dignitaries in Attendance

The inaugural ceremony was graced by several senior IAS and IPS officers including:

• Mr. V. Srinivas
• Mr. Naresh Pal Gangwar
• Ms. Shreya Guha
• Mr. Rohit Kumar
• Mr. Ashutosh Pednekar
• Mr. Siddharth Mahajan
• Mr. P.C. Kishan
• Ms. Manisha Arora
• Ms. K.V. Vandana (IPS)
• Ms. Preeti Jain (IPS)
• Mr. Rajesh Nirwan
• Mr. Adarsh Sidhu
• Mr. Vijay Meena
• Mr. Mukut Bihari

Resident Commissioners from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu were also present at the event.