Sujanpur Holi Utsav begins

Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, March 3

The performing of centuries-old rituals at the Murli Manohar temple marked the beginning of the historical Sujanpur Holi Utsav at the Sujanpur Chaugan here today.

The festival was declared open by Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Inder Dutt Lakhanpal who was the chief guest on the occasion.

The CPS inaugurated exhibition stalls of various departments depicting their achievements and programmes of the government. The stalls were put up by the Agriculture, Health, Industries, Fisheries, Welfare and others.

Lakhanpal said the historical Sujanpur Holi festival was the initiative of the erstwhile king of Sujanpur, Raja Sansar Chand, who had set the tradition of celebrating the festival of colours with the public. He said fairs and festivals reflected our rich cultural heritage for which the state was internationally known.

Speaking on development issues, he said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was committed to all-round development of the district. The CM had laid the foundation stones of projects worth over Rs 300 crore in the district, he said. Earlier, he visited the shopping and amusement arcade set up at the Sujanpur Chaugan.

Rajender Singh Rana, vice-president, Disaster Management Board, Jagdish Saphiya, Chairman, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, former MLA Kuldeep Pathania, Anita Verma, Prem Kushal, Rajeev Chopra, member, State Grievance Committee, Deputy Commissioner Rohan Chand Thakur, Ajay Bodh, Superintendent of Police, and the local SDM were among others who present.