4-day Shimla festival from June 3

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 25

The four-day International Shimla Summer Festival will begin from June 3. Various events like fashion shows and musical performances will be held during the fest. The icing on the cake will be folk dances. As the tourist footfall has dropped by 30 per cent this season, organisers are looking for ways to make the event a memorable one.

There will be a carnival. Local and international students from 30 private universities and as many cultural groups will sing and dance on The Mall, spreading the message “Keep Shimla Clean and Green”.

“Games such as ‘peethu’, ball and stone pyramid, ‘panjri’, ‘giti’ and ‘sifi’ will be held for girls at the ice skating rink,” said Deputy Commissioner Rajeshwar Goel.

The venue on The Ridge will get a new look. “Artistes will perform at different locations on The Ridge and The Mall, seeking tourists participation too,” Goel said.

The festival will have both traditional and modern flavours. The DC said traditional bands of bajantris from Shimla district and rock bands would compete for the trophy on The Ridge and The Mall.” We will have street plays, kavi sammelans, pahari qawwalis and cultural star nights,” he added.

Other highlights of the festival will be a food mela, a flower show and a fashion show. There will also be a baby show, a dog show and a heritage walk.

Hoteliers said they were hopeful of a brisk business. “The water availability has increased by over 50 MLD,” they said.

President of the Shimla Hotelier and Restaurant Association Sanjay Sood said the tourists had started coming to Shimla and the city had adequate water.