Mussoorie Begins Preparations for Winter Line Carnival 2025; Festival to Be Held from December 24–29
Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi reviews arrangements with committee and administration
Dehradun: Preparations have intensified for the upcoming Winter Line Carnival to be held in Mussoorie from December 24 to 29, 2025. Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi on Tuesday chaired a detailed review meeting with members of the Mussoorie Festival Committee and district administration officials at Manthan Auditorium located on Rajpur Road.
The Minister announced that, in view of Uttarakhand’s Silver Jubilee Year, this year’s Winter Line Carnival will be celebrated in a grand and expanded format. He informed that on the recommendation of the committee, the carnival will begin two days earlier than the traditional date of December 26. The 2025 edition will commence on December 24, dedicated to the 100th birth anniversary of Uttarakhand State Movement leader Indramani Badoni.
Each day of the carnival will be dedicated to eminent personalities. On December 25, a special event will be held to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Other days will be dedicated to martyrs, Padma Shri awardees, renowned author Ruskin Bond, and several other distinguished figures of the state.
Unlike previous years, this time the carnival will not be limited to a single location. Multiple prominent spots—including Gandhi Chowk, Shaheed Sthal, Picture Palace, Landour Chowk, and Town Hall—will host various cultural and entertainment programs. The Minister also directed the committee to finalize and release the Mussoorie Festival Brochure at the earliest.
Emphasizing the importance of community participation, Minister Joshi instructed that local artists, cultural groups, and residents be given priority in the festival. He said this would help tourists experience the rich cultural traditions and heritage of Uttarakhand.
The carnival schedule will include a range of attractions such as star gazing, trekking, winter line viewing, rock climbing, ITBP band performances, photography competitions, as well as sports and cultural contests across all municipal wards.
To enhance the festive atmosphere, Minister Joshi instructed officials to decorate Mussoorie extensively—through lighting, beautification of main squares and intersections, and wall paintings. Wide publicity of the festival will be ensured through hoardings at ISBT, railway stations, expressways, and other major locations.
The Public Works Department was directed to expedite the improvement of Mussoorie roads and railings. The Minister also stressed the need to repair the alternate route to facilitate one-way traffic during the festival.
He further instructed that all line departments remain fully active during the carnival. Proper arrangements for electricity, water supply, traffic and parking management, shuttle services, security, sanitation, and bonfires in view of the cold weather must be ensured.
Members of the Mussoorie Festival Committee shared their suggestions for the grand organisation of the Winter Line Carnival.
Those present in the meeting included Mussoorie Municipal Chairperson Meera Saklani, Traders’ Association President Rajat Agarwal, State Convenor of the Cultural Cell Rajendra Rawat, former District Minister Satish Dhaudiyal, along with District Magistrate Savin Bansal, Chief Development Officer Abhinav Shah, Additional District Magistrate K.K. Mishra, MDDA Secretary Mohan Singh Barniya, Mussoorie Joint Magistrate Rahul Kumar, SDMA Pratyush Singh, and senior officials from various departments.
