They were among participants of the Uttarakhand government’s inaugural three-day ‘Nakshatra Sabha’, aimed at promoting astro tourism in the region. The event, which concluded Sunday, promised a comprehensive astro-tourism experience, featuring stargazing through specialized instruments, talks by experts, an astrophotography competition, and special solar observations. Attendees also camped under the stars.

Organizers are planning to hold several Nakshatra Sabhas by mid-2025, offering a series of programs at various locations across Uttarakhand. (Express Photo)

“Away from the noise and the heat of the cities, camping under the clear night sky was a great experience for me and my kids. Using laser lights to point at stars, and feeling that power to send a light beam into space was something they enjoyed,” said Reety, who traveled from New Delhi to attend the event.

Ashish Agarwal, an HR professional at a private company in Gurgaon, said he took leave to attend the event after getting to know about it on Instagram. “On the first day, we were given a brief about the event, and later, we saw some 3D short films. There was also a celestial show, where we were given trivia related to how the elements of Hindu mythology are connected to astronomy,” he said.

Nakshatra Sabha was organized at George Everest peak in Mussoorie by the Uttarakhand Tourism Department in collaboration with an astro tourism company. The Tourism Department said it was part of its initiative to promote multidimensional tourism in the state.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event’s inauguration, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke about the multidimensional tourism initiative. He said the government was also making efforts to promote green tourism, and apart from religious tourism, special attention was also being given to adventure tourism, wellness tourism and astro tourism. He said the government is setting up ‘Astro Villages’ at various locations in the state.

It will cover sites with ‘dark sky’ potential in Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital, and Chamoli districts, as well as seminars and webinars with experts. (Express Photo)

Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said emphasis was being laid on developing new tourist destinations in the state.

Organizers are planning to hold several Nakshatra Sabhas by mid-2025, offering a series of programs at various locations across Uttarakhand. It will cover sites with ‘dark sky’ potential in Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital, and Chamoli districts, as well as seminars and webinars with experts.

“This campaign will provide training and skill development opportunities to local youth, creating new employment opportunities for them. In addition, it will advocate for the conservation of dark skies by fostering a community of ambassadors dedicated to promoting dark sky conservation efforts in Uttarakhand. This includes the creation of a dark sky conservation policy and its implementation across the region throughout the year,” the state government said in a statement.

These Nakshatra Sabhas have been launched in collaboration with Starscapes, a private company that runs observatories related to astrophysics and space exploration across the state. (Express Photo)

These Nakshatra Sabhas have been launched in collaboration with Starscapes, a private company that runs observatories related to astrophysics and space exploration across the state.

Sachin Kurve, secretary (tourism) and CEO of Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council, said the aim is to put Uttarakhand at the forefront of astro tourism.

“Uttarakhand, with its vast forest area, nature-based tourism and homestays, is uniquely positioned to become the choice of astro-tourists. This campaign is another step in that direction. Our aim is to invite visitors from all over the world. We look forward to hosting many more such campaigns to give them a glimpse of Uttarakhand’s unique heritage as well as experience the magic of the universe that can put Uttarakhand on the global astro tourism map,” said Kurve.