‘Ila Owl Festival’ to Begin in Jayadri Valley from December: A Celebration of Conservation, Science & Creativity

Ila Owl Festival’ to Begin in Jayadri Valley from December:
The Jayadri Valley in Purandar, Pune is set to host India’s fifth and earliest ‘Ila Owl Festival’ starting this December at the Ila Foundation in Pingori. Renowned ornithologist Dr. Satish Pande announced that the three-day festival will see active participation from schools across Maharashtra.

The first Owl Festival was organized in 2019 by the Ila Foundation, attracting researchers and scientists from 19 countries, earning global recognition. The initiative gained significant international appreciation.

Owls are considered reliable allies of farmers and play an important role in maintaining ecological balance. However, several superstitions surround them. To counter these misconceptions, the Foundation has been continuously working on awareness and conservation, said bird enthusiast Rajkumar Pawar from Jejuri. He added that Dr. Pande’s guidance has brought tremendous success to this awareness movement.

This year’s festival at ‘Ila Habitat’ in Pingori will feature scientific information on owl behavior, photo and poster exhibitions, art, dance, drama, creative models, documentaries, books from different countries, and more. Participation from nature conservation groups, wildlife experts, environmental researchers, and colleges across India is increasing.

For more information about the festival, writers and experts such as Suruchi Pande, Dr. Onkar Sumant, Rahul Lonkar, Fayyaz Shaikh, Pralhad Jadhav, Rishikesh Jagtap, and Rajkumar Pawar can be contacted.

Dr. Satish Pande emphasized, “Owls are not symbols of superstition; they are true allies of farmers and protect crops. When accurate information reaches people, conservation happens naturally.”