3-day Shivratri fair ends in Nurpur

Our Correspondent

Nurpur, February 25

The three-day-long Shivratri fair today concluded with religious fervour at the Kathgarh temple in Indora near here.

Jagdish Sapiya, chairman of Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, presided over the closing ceremony. He first led an impressive “Kalash Yatra” at Kathgarh village, which culminated at the Lord Shiva temple. He paid his obeisance at the temple.

Addressing a gathering, the chief guest said festivals and fairs reflected our rich cultural heritage, communal harmony and social bonds of our society. Lauding the efforts of the temple’s management committee, he said it had undertaken development and beautification of temple premises.

Om Parkash Katoch, president of the temple management committee, without naming Indora MLA Manohar Dhiman, said those who were demanding accounts from the committee would be given a reply at an appropriate time. Notably, Nurpur MLA Manohar Dhiman had yesterday criticized the committee for not inviting him to preside over the opening ceremony of the Shivartri fair despite his name printed on the invitation cards and got opened the same from Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri. He had also sought a probe into the committee’s accounts.

The chief guest, Jagdish Sapiya, also gave away cash prizes, certificates and medals to meritorious students who had excelled in the annual scholarship examination conducted by the temple management committee.

Manmohan Katoch, former president of the state Youth Congress indirectly criticised MLA Manohar Dhiman for demanding government takeover of the temple management. He said he should improve the poor condition of roads connecting the historical Kathgarh temple before raising such demand. Thousand of devotees from Himachal and neighbouring states also thronged the temple to pay their obeisance.