VHAH explores feminine prowess
In India women have always held a place of pride, known for their grit, determination and mettle. Women have a very strong portrayal in scriptures and beyond. She is celebrated as goddess. ‘Devi,’ as the goddess is referred to, is epitome of power and resilience on one hand and compassion and love on the other. This year, the 10th edition of VHAH festival held at Ramgarh Shekhawati was an ode to the women power. The theme of the festival ‘Women in Heritage.’ Celebrating the women power jelled perfectly with the book Devi and Her Avatars which was launched at the VHAH Festival (Virasat, Heritage, Arts & History Festival), setting a vibrant tone for this year’s celebration of cultural heritage.
The launch of the book held at the Fort in Ramgarh was a captivating event where authors, scholars, artists, and enthusiasts came together to honour the unveiling of Alka Pande’s latest work.Vedaaranya Heritage and Healing Festival, known as VHAH Fest was Organised by MOHAR (museum of a
heritage and Art at Ramgarh), a unit of Shruti Foundation in partnership with UNESCO, INTACH Shekhawati Chapter, Rajasthan Tourism.
The festival opened with a prestigious UNESCO Panel on Women in Heritage led by Tim Curtis (Head of UNESCO South Asia) and moderated by Dr Alka Pande, the author of the book Devi and Her Avatars. The tenth anniversary of VHAH FEST unfolded across the grand havelis, frescoes walls, chhatris, stepwells and the Ramgarh Fort in the Shekhawati region.
Ramgarh happens to be India’s largest open air art gallery with intense clusters of wall painting and once a famous hub of Sanskrit learning and Ayurvedic medicine. Ramgarh Shekhawati, once known as Doosra Kashi was at one point of time had the highest per capita income in the world! VHAH festival itself is a living example of women power.
An initiative led by Shruti Nada Poddar, Founder Shruti Foundation and Convener INTACH Shekhawati Chapter. The festival has grown in size and scope and attracts individuals from across the world. Shruti has dedicated herself to reviving and reimagining the heritage of Shekhawati.
Through the festival and its programmes, she continues to restore the local economy, preserve its intangible traditions and rebuild Ramgarh as a Habitat of the Future where heritage healing, creativity and community come together. The festival opened with a prestigious UNESCO Panel on Women in Heritage led by Tim Curtis (Head of UNESCO South Asia) and moderated by Dr Alka Pande. The book launch was followed by an engaging conversation between Alka Pande and the moderator, Shruti Poddar, delving into the inspirations behind the book, the research journey, and the dialogues between art and mythology that animate the text.
Devi and Her Avatars by Alka Pande, published by Penguin India, is a book that is firmly rooted in Indian traditions yet very relevant for the present times, when women are increasingly finding their voice and their true calling.
“The book,” as the author said “is all about finding the Devi within”’Devi and Her Avatars’ by Alka Pande is a luminous exploration of the divine feminine in Indian culture, art, and mythology. With deep scholarship woven seamlessly into evocative narrative, Pande brings to life the many forms of the Goddess-each avatar rich with symbolism, history, and aesthetic expression.
The book transcends traditional religious discourse to engage with art history, visual culture, and lived spiritual experiences. What makes this work remarkable is its ability to speak both to the seasoned scholar and the curious reader: lucid prose, insightful interpretations, and stunning visual references make every chapter a journey into the heart of the Devi’s manifold presence across time and space.
More than a reference, this book is an invitation — to see the Goddess in her myriad faces, to reflect on the feminine as a force of creation, destruction, compassion, and power, and to appreciate how art and faith intertwine in shaping cultural imagination.
