Biodiversity Festival

One of the things that I did on this trip to South India was to judge all the exhibits in the Biodiversity Festival organized by the Keystone Foundation and select a winner and a runner-up.  The exhibit shown in this image was about the conservation and management of black dammar (Canarium strictum), an important local resin used for incense. 

After 7 hours of judging (really), a winner was finally chosen.  And what better way to celebrate this decision than with singing, dancing, drums, and a bonfire. [NOTE: Music was provided by the group Vayali, from the neighboring state of Kerala].