Guv to open historic Lavi Fair in Rampur today

Tribune News Service

Shimla/Dharamsala, November 10

The historic Lavi Fair, an annual feature, will commence at Rampur, 132 km from here, tomorrow.

Governor Acharya Devvrat will inaugurate the four-day fair on fixed dates from November 11 to 14, while Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will be the chief guest at the closing function.

The fair, held at the onset of winter, was declared an international trade fair in 1996 and is the only fair which has no religious significance. A makeshift market is created and stalls are auctioned where traders display their goods while a special Kinnauri market yard is earmarked for goods from Kinnaur. Colourful cultural programmes are held in the evening.

Lavi was an international trade festival in real sense till 1962 and traders from far-off places like Samarkand, Afghanistan, Tibet, Ladakh and other places reached Rampur through old silk route but after the Chinese aggression, the fair lost its sheen.

The traders from Kinnaur and Tibet used to bring pashmina, chilgozas, black cummin, dry fruits, spices, apple and other local produce for sale but with the starting of Lavi fair in Kinnaur, which was held in the first week of November this year, the volumes of goods arriving at Rampur have been reduced.

The sure-footed Chaumurti horses of Spiti are a major attraction at the fair that fetch between Rs 3-4 lakh while other goods like horses, mules, colts, yaks, namdas, pattis, woollens, and semi-finished raw wool are also on display for sale.

The Lavi fair started during the reign of Raja Kehar Singh and a treaty was signed between Tibet and the Bushair state. The two states even exchanged horses and swords as a mark to celebrate the trade relationship which is being carried over till date. After Tibet was occupied by China, all trade activities between the two states were halted and resumed again after several years.

500 for police games

In Dharamsala, the Governor inaugurated the 50th state-level police games on the police grounds here. About 500 policemen from various parts of the state are participating in the games. The police sportspersons will compete in athletics, volleyball, badminton and football events in the two-day sports meet. The Governor said the people and police should take oath for making the state narcotics-free.

He appreciated the efforts of the police in checking the drug menace. Devvrat said society had great expectations from the police. Police officials should conduct themselves in such a manner that they acted as the role models for society. Sports activities were must for the police officials as, besides keeping them fit, these helped them develop team spirit. Many policemen were representing the country at national and international sports meets.

DGP Sita Ram Mardi presented a report of police achievements. He also honoured the Governor. DIG, Dharamsala range, Atul Fulzele welcomed the guests and spoke about various activities taking place during the sports event.

The players participated in the march past during the event. The students of Government College, Dharamsala, presented a cultural programme.

No religious background

• The fair, held at the onset of winter, was declared an international trade fair in 1996 and is the only fair which has no religious significance
• A makeshift market is created and stalls are auctioned where traders display their goods
• A special Kinnauri market yard is earmarked for goods from Kinnaur
• Colourful cultural programmes are held in the evening.