https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Reviving a Dying Art Through a Flute Festival

Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit is witnessing a Flute Festival these days, organized by the DM of Pilibhit, Pulkit Khare, to revive the dying art of flute making in the district. Not so long ago, Pilibhit could boast of being the producer of some of the finest wooden flutes in the country. With production cost going up and profit coming down, most flute artisans left this business. The DM is now trying to revive the industry through various initiatives. Inputs by Pallavi Priya
Indian Masterminds Stories

Also known as the ‘City of Flutes’, Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh can boast of some of the world’s finest wooden flutes, beautifully handcrafted by artisans who pour their heart and soul into every piece. However, for some time now, the place had started losing its hold on the flute market as the traditional flute makers were leaving the trade because of high production costs and lower profits. Adding to the expenses was the bamboo, that was brought from Silchar, Assam, to make the flutes.

To revive the age-old tradition of flute making and to arouse people’s interest in flutes once again, the District Magistrate of Pilibhit, Mr. Pulkit Khare, has organized a three-day flute festival under the ‘One District One Product’ scheme of the Uttar Pradesh government.

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the officer shared more details about the festival.

DM Pilibhit on the inaugural ceremony of the festival

BASURI MAHOTSAV OBJECTIVES

While inaugurating the three-day ‘Basuri Mahotsav’, District Magistrate Pulkit Khare said that the main objectives of the Basuri festival are to promote the oldest culture of the district – Basuri playing and to promote the identity of the district – River Ganga and Gomti. 

The DM inaugurating the event

DIFFERENT STATES PUT UP STALLS 

From Bengal to Punjab, different states have put up stalls in the festival, showcasing their traditions and cultures through a variety of products.

The guest district, too, has joined the fray by depicting and demonstrating the techniques of making the famous cotton carpets of Pilibhit. 

“We have food stalls, cultural stalls, informative stalls, and many more at our three-day festival. Several artists have been invited to the festival who will add feathers to the already beautiful cap with their performances. I request everyone to come to the festival with their friends and families and enjoy the cultural stalls and events wholeheartedly,” Mr. Khare said.

The festival is housing several stalls from different states

REVIVING AN AGE-OLD CULTURE

The main attraction of the festival is the construction of a 15-foot playable flute that is manufactured by local artisans. The flute will be registered for a World Record as previously the record for the world’s largest playable flute was of an 11-feet large flute. The record is expected to attract a larger number of people towards the art of flute making once again.

“Pilibhit was always known as Basuri Nagri. However, in recent years, this culture was getting lost somewhere and was losing its charm. Under the ‘One District One Product’ Scheme of the Uttar Pradesh government, we decided to give the flute its original identity back. Our flute artisans and manufacturers are also being taken care of. We are benefitting them in whatever way we can, through government schemes, and are taking care of their necessities,” Mr. Khare told Indian Masterminds.

The 15-foot long playable flute will be considered for a world record

ATTRACTION POINTS

An art stall filled with beautiful artwork and paintings by inmates of the district prison is attracting people. The stall also exhibits bags, coats, and saree covers manufactured by the prisoners. Colorful masks made by them got sold out quickly. 

Some self-help groups of Pilibhit have organized a special ‘sanitary stall’ for women where they have exhibited locally made sanitary napkins. Stalls selling fresh honey extracted directly from beehives were also getting a lot of footfalls.

“Our district is full of natural wealth. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, surrounded by Sharda and Ghaghra river, is the center of attraction for tourists, and Chuka spot, situated in the middle of the forest, is famous for tourism due to its beauty and panoramic view of the sunset. Stalls depicting the beauty of these scenic places spread information and knowledge about our local beauty,” Mr. Khare said.

The administration hopes that the three-day flute festival will help in reviving the traditional art of flute making and attracting tourists’ interest towards Pilibhit.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
8th pay commission
Big Breaking! 8th Pay Commission May Merge DA With Basic Pay: A Historic Salary Reform Set to Reshape Government Pay Structure
ONGC_resized
ONGC Launches 2025 Apprenticeship Program with 2,623 Vacancies — Empowering India’s Youth for Energy Sector Careers
PNB-resized
PNB Unlocks Rs 1,007 Crore by Selling 10% Stake in Canara HSBC Life Ahead of IPO — Strategic Move to Strengthen Core Operations
ONGC_resized
India’s State-Run Oil Giants Invest Rs 46,600 Crore in Five Months — ONGC and IOC Lead Push for Energy Infrastructure Growth
CIL & IIT Madras Tie Up
Coal India and IIT Madras Join Forces to Launch ‘Centre for Sustainable Energy’ — A Major Step Toward India’s Net-Zero Future
Rajasthan-Police
Rajasthan: 34 IPS Senior Officers Transferred in Major Reshuffle; New DG Post Created in SOG-ATS, Sachin Mittal Made New Police Commissioner of Jaipur
IRTS logo
Senior IRTS Officer Ranjan Prakash Thakur Prematurely Repatriated from ONGC to Parent Cadre for Promotion
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-21 at 16.46
How IPS Alok Raj Narayan is Changing Policing in Uttar Pradesh
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT