December 18–21, 2025 | Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri
The Nilgiris Earth Festival (TNEF) returns for its fourth edition this December, bringing together ecologists, indigenous communities, farmers, and food practitioners to examine how cultural traditions, food, and biodiversity intersect in one of India’s most fragile mountain ecosystems.
Held across Ooty, Coonoor, and Kotagiri from December 18–21, 2025, the festival transforms the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve into an intimate space for shared learning and action around restoration, sustainable food systems, and cultural continuity.
Since its launch in 2022, TNEF has evolved into a collaborative platform linking ecologists and grassroots producers with chefs, artists, and local communities, emphasising ecological importance and interdependence in everyday life.
Highlights of TNEF 2025
Restoration ecologist Vasanth Bosco of Upstream Ecology leads guided walks through native plant nurseries, examining how habitat restoration strengthens hydrology and soil systems in the upper Nilgiris.
Workshops with Shruti Tharayil (Forgotten Greens) introduce foraging as both ecological education and food security practice, while Devi Lakshmikutty (Bio Basics) highlights ancestral grains and seed diversity as tools for climate resilience.
Writer and educator Afshan Mariam (Sky Islands) connects food to emotions in Edible Memories, a sensory workshop on migration, landscape, and belonging.
The Habba 2025 – Held at Keystone Foundation
The Festival will conclude with The Habba 2025 at Keystone Foundation, Kotagiri, a full, vibrant day of Indigenous food, music, and conversation. Over fifteen communities from across the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve will share their foods and crafts, with a free indigenous lunch open to all. This year’s highlights will include the screening of Wild Tamil Nadu, directed by Kalyan Varma (produced through the CSR initiative of Sundram Fasteners Ltd., in collaboration with Nature InFocus and with the support of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department), with a conversation between Varma and Supriya Sahu, Principal Secretary (Environment, Climate Change and Forests), Government of Tamil Nadu, who will also be the Guest of Honour and present the TNEF Award 2025. Our guest speakers will be Madhu Chandan of Organic Mandya and Divya Mudappa & T.R. Shankar Raman of Nature Conservation Foundation, who will share grounded perspectives on conservation and sustainable food systems.
Other Events
The Chef’s Table, an intimate donor-only event, will partner with Sienna Calcutta, one of India’s most celebrated restaurants, whose team, led by Chef Avinandan Kundu, will craft a meal that brings Bengal’s culinary artistry into dialogue with the Nilgiris. Each course draws on produce from local farmers and cooperatives, including TOHFA and Aadhimalai, creating an exchange between two regions defined by depth, flavour, and memory. This year, there will also be a special ticketed brunch hosted by Sienna Calcutta
Tickets for the events can be bought at https://urbanaut.app/about-thenilgirisearthfestival. The Habba 2025 is free with registration.
