Manali Winter Carnival kicks off

Our Correspondent

KULLU, January 2

After the office-bearers of Manali Winter Carnival organising committee paid obeisance at Goddess Hadimba Devi Temple, the national-level carnival was thrown open today. A large number of tableaus exhibiting the traditional folk art of Himachal Pradesh participated in the inaugural procession that started from the Manu Rangshala to the Mall road to commence the celebrations.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was to inaugurate the festivities. However, due to overcast sky throughout the day, his flight was cancelled. His entire schedule to this district was cancelled as well.

Kullu DC and chairman of the Manali Winter Carnival organising committee lighted the lamp on behalf of the CM to inaugurate the carnival at Manu Rangshala.

During his address, the DC said the carnival was significant for the tourism industry and such festivals also publicised the rich cultural and traditional heritage of the state.

The five-day cultural evenings will have mixed flavour of music and dance. Cultural troupes from various states will remain a special attraction for the locals, while Himachali folk dances and cultural presentations will attract the domestic and foreign tourists. The Miss Winter Queen beauty pageant will also be held during the entire event, the finale to which will be held on January 6.

A large number of residents gathered at Manu Rangshala, the open air auditorium, to watch the cultural programmes in the freezing temperatures.

Ramesh, a visitor from Delhi, said he was impressed by the confluence of cultural richness of many states of India.

A local resident rued that the status of the carnival in old days was far better and even former CM PK Dhumal had tried to improve the standard of the carnival by declaring it a national-level festival but it had lost its status during the past one decade. The continued efforts by the organising committee might bring back the lost prestige of the carnival, he added.

Kullu MLA Maheshwar Singh, who recounted the achievements of the government, Zila Parishad Chairman Hari Chand Sharma, SP Kullu Surinder Verma, Manali SDM Viney Dhiman and Congress leaders were present on the occasion.