Tribal youth leads effort to turn Udmal into Maharashtra's first Dark Sky Community

Inspired by a stargazing event organized by AstronEra when he was 14, Vipul Khiradi, now a physics student, is leading a campaign to make Udmal, a tribal village in Surgana taluka, Maharashtra’s inaugural Dark Sky Community. He has toured the country with AstronEra, learning how darkness can become an economic asset, and returned to persuade villagers that the project involves improved lighting rather than total darkness.

With backing from AstronEra, local officials and the District Planning Committee, the village will receive Rs 42 lakh to purchase telescopes, sky-quality meters and visitor facilities. The district collector, Ayush Prasad, sees the effort as a template for similar rural initiatives. Udmal joins ten other locations in the state being evaluated for International Dark Sky Places status, alongside sites such as Kaas Plateau and Lonar. If successful, the project could showcase how rural youth can drive sustainable tourism while safeguarding cultural and natural heritage.