{"id":18574,"date":"2026-08-31T11:12:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T11:12:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=18574"},"modified":"2026-08-31T11:12:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T11:12:28","slug":"young-stargazer-helping-make-darkness-the-brightest-thing-for-the-future-of-his-tribal-village-in-nashik-nashik-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=18574","title":{"rendered":"Young stargazer helping make darkness the brightest thing for the future of his tribal village in Nashik | Nashik News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133616554,imgsize-236469,width-400,height-225,resizemode-75\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg\" alt=\"Young stargazer helping make darkness the brightest thing for the future of his tribal village in Nashik\" title=\"Vipul Khiradi and Shweta Kulkarni at Udmal village in Surgana taluka of Nashik\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Vipul Khiradi and Shweta Kulkarni at Udmal village in Surgana taluka of Nashik\">Vipul Khiradi and Shweta Kulkarni at Udmal village in Surgana taluka of Nashik<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Nashik<\/span><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">:<\/span> While thousands of young people leave their villages in search of brighter futures under city lights, a tribal youth from a remote corner of Surgana taluka believes prosperity lies in preserving the darkness.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/>For Vipul Khiradi, the journey began with a simple act of looking up.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>One night in 2019, as a 14-year-old Class VIII student at Eklavya English Medium Residential School in Satana, he attended a stargazing programme organised by Pune-based AstronEra. The stars sparked a fascination that would eventually lead him to dream of putting his native village, Udmal, on the global astro-tourism map.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Milky Way Udmal village Dark Sky  (4).jpeg\" msid=\"133616556\" imgsize=\"48339\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"The night sky captured from Udmal\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-48339,msid-133616556\/milky-way-udmal-village-dark-sky-4-jpeg.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The night sky captured from Udmal<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>Today, the 22-year-old physics student is at the centre of an ambitious effort to transform the tribal-dominated village into Maharashtra\u2019s first Dark Sky Community, a place where the night sky is protected from light pollution and turned into an asset for education, conservation and tourism.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>\u201cI was attracted to the twinkles,\u201d Vipul said. \u201cIt generated a lot of interest in me, so much that <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/shweta-kulkarni\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shweta Kulkarni<\/a>, the director of AstronEra, asked me to join the field events whenever they were conducted.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>As he volunteered with AstronEra and travelled to astronomy events across the country, he discovered a world where darkness itself was a resource.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/>During one such visit to Manali, the idea struck him. \u201cAn idea hit me: Why can\u2019t my village be part of this world map?\u201d he said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/>Nestled amid the hills of Surgana, away from the glare of urban development, Udmal already possessed something increasingly rare in modern India, naturally dark skies. Vipul realised the village\u2019s remoteness was not a disadvantage but a strength.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/>However, villagers initially worried that a dark-sky project would mean restrictions on daily life and lighting. Vipul went door to door, explaining that the goal was not darkness for its own sake, but smarter lighting that allowed people to live comfortably while preserving the stars overhead.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Udmal village Dark Sky  (2).jpeg\" msid=\"133616560\" imgsize=\"299588\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"Udmal village in Surgana taluka of Nashik\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-299588,msid-133616560\/udmal-village-dark-sky-2-jpeg.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Udmal village in Surgana taluka of Nashik<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/>\u201cI was the first one from the village to fly to some places, thanks to AstronEra, and this alone was more than enough for me to convince villagers that what I was doing had scope,\u201d he said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/>\u201cThere was a good opportunity for the village as well to enter an exclusive, nature-gifted sector, astro-tourism. It will not only bring the village onto the world map, but will also provide ample opportunity for the villagers to earn.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/>Residents backed the proposal. AstronEra joined hands with the village and local administration. What started as a teenager\u2019s dream soon evolved into a community movement.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/>For Shweta Kulkarni that local ownership is what makes the project special. \u201cThis isn\u2019t development happening to Udmal. It\u2019s development being shaped by Udmal,\u201d she said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"39\"\/>\u201cUdmal has the opportunity to become a model for community-led, responsible tourism, creating local opportunities while protecting the culture, nature, and dark skies that make it unique.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/>The vision has also received govt backing.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"44\"\/>The Nashik district administration has sanctioned funds for infrastructure and equipment required to achieve certification under DarkSky International guidelines. The village will procure telescopes, sky-quality meters and other specialised equipment while developing facilities for visitors and astronomy enthusiasts.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"46\"\/>District collector Ayush Prasad said the initiative could become a template for similar projects elsewhere. <!-- -->\u201cThe administration has decided to provide funds of Rs 42 lakh from the District Planning Committee to ensure the village gets recognition at the earliest. This might also encourage others to follow suit,\u201d he said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"50\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Udmal village Dark Sky  (3).jpeg\" msid=\"133616567\" imgsize=\"381832\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"Udmal village in Surgana taluka of Nashik\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-381832,msid-133616567\/udmal-village-dark-sky-3-jpeg.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Udmal village in Surgana taluka of Nashik<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"52\"\/>Udmal is among 11 locations identified by the state for potential International Dark Sky Places designation, alongside well-known destinations such as Kaas Plateau, Lonar and Toranmal.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"55\"\/>For Vipul, however, the project is more about proving that rural youth need not leave home to pursue ambitious dreams.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"58\"\/>As cities continue to brighten their skylines and erase the stars from view, a young man from a tribal village is betting that the future may lie in protecting the night. And if his vision succeeds, the darkness over Udmal could become the brightest thing that ever happened to it.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/nashik\/young-stargazer-helping-make-darkness-the-brightest-thing-for-the-future-of-his-tribal-village-in-nashik\/articleshow\/133616570.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vipul Khiradi and Shweta Kulkarni at Udmal village in Surgana taluka of Nashik Nashik: While thousands of young people leave their villages in search of brighter futures under city lights, a tribal youth from a remote corner of Surgana taluka believes prosperity lies in preserving the darkness.For Vipul Khiradi, the journey began with a simple [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/khiradi-udmal-village-dark-sky-1jpeg.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Vipul Khiradi and Shweta Kulkarni at Udmal village in Surgana taluka of Nashik Nashik: While thousands of young people leave their villages in search of brighter futures under city lights, a tribal youth from a remote corner of Surgana taluka believes prosperity lies in preserving the darkness.For Vipul Khiradi, the journey began with a simple [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 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