The vibrant world of owls takes center stage in Pune district this week as the Ela Foundation prepares to host the sixth edition of the Indian Owl Festival. The three-day event is scheduled to run from December 4 to December 6 at the Ela Habitat in Pingori, located in the Purandar taluka.
More Than a Festival: A Mission for Conservation
The core mission of the festival is to foster public awareness about the critical ecological role owls play and to dismantle the superstitious beliefs that often endanger them. Dr. Satish Pande, Director of the Ela Foundation, emphasized that owls are natural allies for farmers, serving as vital controllers of crop-damaging pests. The festival directly addresses the harmful myths surrounding these birds to promote their protection.
"We expect more than 25,000 participants in this year's exhibition and performance," Dr. Pande stated, highlighting the event's growing popularity. The foundation employs innovative and engaging educational methods to sensitize the public, heavily relying on the active involvement of students and citizens from across the country.
A Canvas of Creativity: Art and Performance for Awareness
The festival transforms into a massive open-air gallery and cultural stage dedicated to owls. The foundation will display an impressive collection of over 15,000 owl-related contributions. These include paintings, sculptures, face masks, bookmarks, kites, rangoli, and mehendi art, sourced from more than 200 schools, colleges, and members of the public from various Indian states.
Artistic performances form another pillar of the event. Participants will stage skits, songs, and cultural presentations like kirtan, bhajan, bharud, and gondhal, all creatively focused on owl themes. The festival grounds, spread across 2 acres within the Ela Habitat, will feature dedicated pandals for art display, two performance stages, and various stalls.
An Immersive Experience for Visitors
Attendees can look forward to an interactive experience. Special stalls will offer mehendi drawing and face painting services for participants. Other stalls will be dedicated to the display and sale of owl-related artefacts, as well as educational books and materials published by the Ela Foundation itself.
In a significant addition, the foundation will also confer the Aranyaani nature conservation award during the festival, recognizing efforts in wildlife preservation. By combining art, culture, education, and community participation, the 6th Indian Owl Festival aims to create a lasting impact on conservation attitudes, turning public perception of owls from objects of fear to recognized friends of the ecosystem.
