Mussoorie SDM in city to promote carnival

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, December 17

The third edition of the Mussoorie Winterline Carnival will be organised at Hotel Vikas from December 25 to 30. The six-day extravaganza will feature local artistes like folk jagar performer Basanti Bisht, besides renowned Bollywood singer Mohit Chauhan and qawwali singer Nizami Bandhu of film “Bajrangi Bhiajan” fame. Chief Minister Harish Rawat will inaugurate the carnival on December 25.

Swati Bhadauria, SDM, Mussoorie, stated this while addressing media persons at the Chandigarh Press Club today. She said the carnival had been a hit with tourists for the last two years and this year, the programme has been designed keeping in view the interests and choices of all age groups. Popular local singers Narendra Singh Negi and Pritam Barthwan will give performances and local dances, games and cuisine would be showcased. There would be a magic show by world-famous magician NC Sarkar, Kathak and rock band performances, a kavi sammelan featuring the likes of Surendra Sharma, and a Rajasthani dance. A stage adaptation of “Mahabharat by the Bharat Natya Academy, besides dance items such as LED dance and Shadow Dance would be other major attractions of the carnival to look forward to.

Swati said besides these events, there will be a puppet show, baby show, kids’ zone for children, fun games, couple dance, photography contest, and an art exhibition. “We have written to all district magistrates for showing handicraft of Uttarakhand during the carnival,” she added.

She said Uttarakhand with its serene Himalayas, landscapes and beautiful environment is a must place to visit. Mussoorie that is a few years shy of its bicentennial would be eagerly awaiting tourists to the Winterline Carnival. The state government and the local administration had taken care to ensure a comfortable stay and happy times for tourists at around 190 hotels in Mussoorie during the carnival.

Swati added local artistes would be performing at Shaheed Sthal from 2 pm to 4 pm daily during the carnival as part of the government plan to encourage folk artistes and provide them with a source of earning. Stalls of local food would be set up to popularize these among tourists. George Everest was being popularised as a star attraction.

She said the administration had put in place a traffic plan to ensure smooth movement of vehicles during the carnival. No vehicle, in any case, would be allowed on the Mall Road. The police had been sensitized to ensure tourists were not fleeced.

Chief Development Officer Alok Kumar Pandey said winterline was visible from Mussoorie for four months from October 15 till February. Through the carnival, the state government wanted to send the message across that Uttarakhand is a safe place for tourists post-natural disaster of 2013.

The government had also planned to promote winter char dham yatra and winter and adventure tourism in the state.