NEW DELHI: Kuwarani Dr Ritu Singh of Jammu and Kashmir brought Jammu’s cultural heritage to the national spotlight at the 16th edition of Royal Fables held at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi, where she served as the official Craft Partner for the exposition.
The event showcased Jammu’s centuries-old Dogra traditions, design legacy and culinary heritage before delegates, art connoisseurs and international dignitaries.
A major attraction at the exposition was a prime installation featuring the traditional Dogri Poshak, presented by Runway Diaries, J&K, under the leadership of Dr Ritu Singh.
The installation highlighted the craftsmanship of Jammu’s artisans, textile traditions and royal sartorial heritage, giving the region a prominent place on the national luxury and cultural platform.
The cultural presentation also extended to cuisine, with guests served an authentic Dogri feast during the official banquet.
The menu was prepared by cooks from the historic Hari Niwas Palace and drew inspiration from traditional recipes associated with the royal kitchens of the Dogra Dynasty.
The event also featured a panel discussion organised by the Ladies Study Group, Delhi Chapter, led by its president Pushpanjali N Chawla.
Titled “6 Remarkable Women from 6 Royal Houses”, the discussion brought together women leaders from royal families who are working in areas such as social transformation, entrepreneurship, governance and heritage preservation.
The panel featured Kuwarani Dr Ritu Singh, Maharani Nivritti Kumari Mewar, Kunwarani Malvika Devi, Rani Kavita Rathore, Princess Vaishnavi Kumari and R.K. Urvashi Singh.
A curated exhibition walkthrough was also conducted by Maharani Shailaja Katoch of Kangra-Lambagraon, featuring handcrafted royal art and artefacts for delegates from India and abroad.
During the proceedings, Dr Ritu Singh’s work in women’s empowerment and social leadership was also highlighted, particularly her initiative at Shri Raghunath Ji Temple in Jammu.
The initiative enabled women, or Matr Shakti, to lead and perform the sacred Maha Aarti at the temple, marking a notable step towards greater participation of women in spiritual and community leadership.
Dr Ritu Singh has been working to combine heritage preservation with social development, with a focus on creating livelihood opportunities for local artisans, strengthening regional identity and promoting women’s empowerment.
Her participation at Royal Fables also underscored the role of traditional heritage as a living platform for cultural preservation, economic opportunity and social progress.
Dr Ritu Singh congratulated Anshu Khanna and Charu Singh on the successful conduct of the 16th edition of Royal Fables and thanked them for their support in providing Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural heritage a prominent national platform.
