Royal Enfield Social Mission Presents ‘Journeying Across The Himalayas’ by Team ACF

A First-of-Its-Kind Festival Celebrating the Timeless Legacy of the Himalayan Landscape, People, Craft, and Culture

Event Dates: 5th – 15th December 2024
Venue: Travancore Palace, New Delhi, India

Royal Enfield Social Mission is thrilled to announce the inaugural edition of ‘Journeying Across The Himalayas’, a multidisciplinary festival celebrating the power of collective action for change in Royal Enfield’s spiritual home—the Himalayas. Taking place from 5th to 15th December 2024 at Travancore Palace, New Delhi, this festival will feature a wide range of exciting programs and exhibits that highlight the rich cultural, environmental, and artisanal heritage of the Himalayan region.

Festival Highlights

The festival will offer a combination of interactive installations, exhibitions, workshops, and discussions, all aimed at preserving and celebrating the Himalayan way of life. Here are some key highlights you don’t want to miss:

From Folk to Fabric: The Himalayan Knot Textile Exhibition

Curated by Ikshit Pande
The Himalayan Knot is a textile conservation project that brings together Himalayan artisans, conservationists, and designers to conserve pastoral lands and spotlight regional crafts. This exhibition traces the rich craftsmanship across the Himalayan states, celebrating sustainable textiles and the stories embedded in these crafts. The exhibition includes traditional attire, folklore, photographs, and artifacts that reveal the deep connection between the region’s textiles and its oral traditions.

An Ode to the Snow Leopard

360-Degree VR Film by Gautam Pandey and Doel Trivedy
This immersive VR experience takes you on a journey to the remote habitats of the elusive snow leopards, exploring the delicate high-altitude ecosystems they inhabit. Royal Enfield’s efforts to support conservation in the Himalayas continue with a focus on Keystone Species and building human-animal harmony in the region.

Green Pit Stops: Harmony by Design

Exhibited by Vishal Dar
Royal Enfield introduces Green Pit Stops, an innovative project that blends traditional building techniques, community partnerships, and local ecologies to create sustainable, circular economies. This exhibit showcases drawings and scale models of these eco-conscious rest stops, highlighting Royal Enfield’s commitment to sustainability.

Helmets for India, Art for Change

Artists Collective with India Foundation for the Arts
This unique exhibit features works by 12 artists who use helmets as canvases to express their emotions, perspectives, and individuality. The project promotes road safety and encourages safe riding practices. Featured artists include Debangshu Moulik, Aditi Mali, Aravani Art Project, and more.

Helmeted Hyphae

Installation by ST+ART
A striking six-foot-high structure made from mycelium, an organic material, this installation challenges our perceptions of how natural materials can be used in structural design. The project is a stunning example of innovation using environmentally sustainable methods.

Evolution of Ice Hockey in Ladakh: Then & Now

Curated by Ladakh Arts & Media Organisation
This exhibition documents the history of ice hockey in Ladakh, celebrating the sport’s impact on the region and Royal Enfield’s efforts to support winter sports at a grassroots level. The project aims to create a sustainable ecosystem for winter sports and facilitate the participation of National Ice Hockey teams in the 2042 Winter Olympics.

The Shape of the Wind is a Tree

Supported by The Himalayan Fellowship for Creative Practitioners
This exhibition showcases projects supported by the inaugural edition of the Himalayan Fellowship, reflecting on themes of self, sensory ecologies, and the enduring stories of the land. Inspired by Wendell Berry’s ecopoetic works, the exhibition presents creative practices rooted in nature, community, and the environment.

Through the Lens of Community, Conservation and Culture

Curated by The Green Hub Project
This immersive multimedia installation imagines a living forest ecosystem, symbolizing the deep connections between Himalayan communities and conservation efforts. Featuring films, photos, and soundscapes, this exhibit highlights the ongoing work of youth and communities in the Himalayas towards collective action.

Entanglements

Site-Specific Installation by sā Ladakh
This installation, created in collaboration with students from Mira Model School, reflects on the relationship between two distinct landscapes—the Aravalli Range and the Himalayas. The installation engages youth changemakers in creating visual narratives about what they want to leave behind for future generations.

Workshops & Discussions

The festival will host a series of panel discussions and hands-on workshops covering vital topics such as:

• Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage
• Responsible tourism and climate resilience
• Human-animal harmony and culinary heritage
• Systems thinking for sustainable solutions
• Modern storytelling techniques and oral traditions

Prominent conservationists, artists, filmmakers, and Himalayan community leaders will join the festival to share insights, engage in discussions, and educate the public on the pressing issues affecting the region.

Festival Shops

Curated festival shops will offer a variety of unique Himalayan products, from handcrafted décor and books to locally sourced produce. The Himalayan Knot Apparel Pop-up will feature collaborations such as:

• Royal Enfield x EKA x Looms of Ladakh
• Royal Enfield x Countrymade x The Action Northeast Trust
• Royal Enfield x Sonam Dubal x The Action Northeast Trust

Additionally, collections by local Himalayan designers, including Namza Couture from Ladakh, Ura Maku from Assam, Jejum Gadi from Arunachal Pradesh, and SWGT from Uttarakhand, will be showcased, celebrating Himalayan heritage through fashion and accessories.

Cultural Performances

Throughout the festival, enjoy live performances by celebrated artists, including:

• Taba Chake
• Bipul Chhetri
• Lou Majaw
• Ao Naga Choir
• Parvaaz
• Joi Barua

These performances will bring the vibrant musical traditions of the Himalayas to life, adding a cultural dimension to the festival.