Every year September 9th is observed as Himalaya day and this time we bring you something special.
From top known literary voices to prominent flowing rivers and food culture, we also ping A note on the recent Nepal disaster to understand why we need more voices to protect the Himalayas.
5 notable blind/visually impaired literary voices connected with the Himalaya
Saurabh Pant — Nainital, Uttarakhand
A visually impaired author born in Nainital, Pant has developed a substantial body of literary work while using screen-reader technology. His Himalayan identity is particularly significant because his literary journey began in Uttarakhand and continued through education in Dehradun and Delhi.Dev Datta Joshi — Far-Western Nepal
Joshi grew up in the remote hills of western Nepal and lost most of his eyesight as a child. He became a lawyer, writer and disability-rights advocate, using articles and writing to campaign for greater opportunities for blind and visually impaired Nepalis.Nirmala Gyawali — Nepal
A visually impaired Nepali writer/advocate, Gyawali is especially notable for establishing Nepal's first Braille library. Her work combines literacy, access to books and advocacy for people with visual disabilities.Kunwar Singh Negi — Pauri, Uttarakhand
Negi was a major figure in Braille publishing rather than conventional literary authorship. Born in Pauri, he worked with the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped in Dehradun and reportedly helped transliterate around 300 books into Braille. He received the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.Sampurna Chattarji — Darjeeling (low-vision rather than blind)
Chattarji grew up in Darjeeling and is an established poet, novelist and translator. She has written about sight and visual impairment, including in Sight May Strike You Blind. A literary source describes her as having severe myopia and a vision impairment, so she belongs in a broader visually impaired/low-vision category rather than a strictly blind-author list.
Top 5 rivers of Himalaya
Here are 5 of the most famous and important rivers associated with the Himalayas:
Ganges River (Ganga) ๐ฎ๐ณ — One of South Asia’s most revered rivers, originating from the Himalayan glaciers in Uttarakhand.
Yamuna River ๐ฎ๐ณ — Rises from the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand and is a major tributary of the Ganga.
Indus River ๐จ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ต๐ฐ — Originates in the Tibetan Plateau and flows through Ladakh before continuing into Pakistan.
Brahmaputra River ๐จ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ง๐ฉ — Known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, it enters India through Arunachal Pradesh and becomes the Brahmaputra.
Sutlej River ๐จ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ต๐ฐ — One of the major rivers of the Indus system, rising in Tibet and flowing through Himachal Pradesh.
๐️ In short
Ganga • Yamuna • Indus • Brahmaputra • Sutlej forms a particularly iconic group when discussing the great rivers of the Himalayan region.
Top 5 food cultures of Himalaya
Here are the top 5 food cultures of the Himalayas - from west to east:
*1. Uttarakhandi / Kumaoni-Garhwali
The most earthy and nutritious. Built for cold & mountains.
- *Staples: Mandua (finger millet), Jhangora (barnyard millet), Bhatt (black soybean)
- *Must-try: Bhatt ki Churkani, Aloo ke Gutke, Chainsoo, Baadi, Gahat ki Dal, Bal Mithai
*2. Himachali / Kangra-Dham Culture
Festive, slow-cooked temple food.
- *Staples: Rajma, Chana, Curd, Rice
- *Must-try: Dham (the feast itself), Siddu (steamed bun with ghee), Babru, Tudkiya Bhath
*3. Kashmiri Culture
specialised and delicate Kashmiri Pandit cuisine
- *Staples: Rice, Saffron, Dry fruits
- *Must-try: Modur Pulao, Dum Aloo, Nadru Yakhni (lotus stem), Haak Saag, Rajma Gogji, Lyodur Tschaman (paneer
*4. Tibetan / Ladakhi Culture
High-altitude, warm and buttery food for extreme cold.
- *Staples: Barley (Tsampa), Yak cheese, Butter tea
- *Must-try: Momos, Thukpa, Thenthuk, Skyu, Butter Tea, Chhurpi
*5. Nepali / Sikkimese / Darjeeling Culture
Tangy, fermented, and very flavorful.
- *Staples: Rice, Fermented greens (Gundruk), Bamboo shoots
- *Must-try: Gundruk, Sel Roti, Dhindo, Kinema curry, Churpi soup, Tongba
Nepal Flash Floods: An environmental reminder
A Himalayan Warning on Himalaya Day
The devastating flash flood that struck Nepal on 26th August 2026 is a stark reminder of Himalayan fragility.
Triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, the floodwaters of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers swept through Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and downstream districts, claiming over 1,340 lives, with nearly 5,000 people still missing and affecting 32,000+ people. Homes, bridges, schools and a dozen hydropower projects were destroyed..
As Nepal observed national mourning on the 13th day as per Hindu tradition, PM Balendra Shah linked the disaster to climate change, noting a 1.8°C rise in Himalayan temperatures.
On Himalaya Day, this tragedy underlines that the Himalayas are not just a boundary but a living ecosystem. Unregulated construction, deforestation, and hydropower expansion in eco-sensitive zones amplify such disasters.
Protecting the Himalayas demands:
- *Climate adaptation: Early warning systems for glacial lake outbursts
- *Eco-sensitive development: No-construction zones along floodplains
- *Ecosystem restoration: Afforestation and sustainable tourism
“If we don't protect the Himalayas, the Himalayas cannot protect us”
Happy HImalaya day everyone.
