Ministry of Culture is organising the 9th edition of the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav under the Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat, in Tehri, Uttarakhand from 25th May to 27th May 2018. Tehri Lake Festival where one can explore the water sports, organized by the Uttarakhand Tourism every year, will be subsumed within the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav.

This year the much-awaited 3 days water sports and cultural event is scheduled from 25th – 27th May 2018 at Tehri Lake, Uttarakhand. Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr Mahesh Sharma in the presence of Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat will inaugurate the 9th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav.

Satpal Maharaj, Tourism Minister, Uttarakhand, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Member of Parliament, Tehri Garhwal and Dhan Singh Negi, MLA, Tehri will also be present at the inauguration on 25th May 2018 at Koti Colony, Near Tehri Lake, Tehri, Uttarakhand at 6:00 p.m.

The essential thrust of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM) is to present rich diversity and uniqueness of Indian culture and to promote the cultural inter-linkages amongst the states to strengthen National integration and also to bid the artists of other parts of the country with the people of Uttarakhand in a single thread of culture.

The Mahotsav was envisioned to preserve, promote and popularize the heritage and cultural diversity of Indian culture and reconnect the new generation with Indian culture. The gastronomic culture of several other states will also be showcased through a food festival. Chefs of traditional delicacies from different regions of the country will treat the visitors to an unparalleled culinary experience.

The paired state for Uttarakhand under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat matrix is Karnataka, and while troupes from all over the country will be performing, special emphasis is being given to Karnataka.

The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav would showcase all the aspects of Indian Culture in different areas and aspects. Artists from states like Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jammu Kashmir, Assam and Punjab will showcase India's cultural heritage through performances of arts, Folk Music, Dance and cuisines. The stage will also provide a platform to local Tehri folk artists to showcase their talent.

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav was conceived by the Ministry of Culture in the year 2015, when the Ministry decided to organize it with an intent to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Country in all its rich and varied dimensions, viz Handicrafts, Cuisine, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Documentation and Performing Arts-Folk, Tribal, Classical and Contemporary- all in one place.

So far, the Ministry of Culture has organized 8 RSM's i.e. 2 in Delhi, 2 in Karnataka, 1 each in Varanasi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and RSM North East in all NE State capitals.

The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme was launched by the Prime Minister on 31st October 2016 to promote engagement amongst the people of different states/UTs so as to enhance mutual understanding and bonding between people of diverse cultures, thereby securing stronger unity and integrity of India. The Uttarakhand edition of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav would be the 9th edition in the series.