The potential of a participatory approach in sustaining the fairs and festivals of small towns

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the issues and potential in using the participatory approach to help sustain the fairs and festivals of small and medium towns and tap into their tourism potential. Design/methodology/approach – An annual fair held in Sohna, a small town of Haryana, part of the District Gurgaon that has shown an exponential decadal urban growth rate, has been taken as a case to reflect on the context of small towns in India. Findings – Due to out-migration and weakening of local indigenous population and change in occupation patterns, there is threat to continuity of the fairs and festivals. The processes revolving around the urban fairs and festivals are driven though participation of various local stakeholders and mechanisms; hence, any attempts at strengthening or sustaining these need to stem from understanding of the various participants and their roles. Practical implications – An understanding of the possibilities and issues in organising the fairs and festivals through stakeholder engagement can help develop solutions to sustain these, enabling cultural continuity and positive economic impact on the various stakeholders. Originality/value – This paper creates a discussion on sustaining the little known cultural wealth of small and medium towns in Haryana among all local and external stakeholders with focus on fairs and festivals.