Chamba readies for Minjar fair

A review meeting regarding the arrangements for the upcoming International Minjar Fair was held at the district headquarters in Chamba. The meeting was presided over by Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Kuldeep Singh Pathania.

Addressing the gathering, Pathania emphasised the cultural and historical significance of the Minjar fair, describing it as a symbol of Chamba district’s heritage, identity and pride on the national and international stage.

He highlighted that the fair represents the rich traditions of Chamba and promotes unity and harmony among various sections of society. He urged everyone to preserve the cultural essence of the fair and expressed hope that, as in previous years, the event would be organised smoothly with administrative efficiency and public cooperation.

The Speaker directed all administrative and departmental officials to fulfill their responsibilities with sincerity and diligence to ensure that there are no shortcomings in managing the fair.

Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal provided a detailed overview of the action plan for fair. He said in accordance with tradition, the fair will be held from July 27 to August 3, beginning on the second Sunday of the Hindu month of Shravan and continuing until the following Sunday. The main events will be organised at Chaugan Ground No. 1, while commercial activities will extend for 15 days, as per customary practice.

Repaswal further said the official invitation card for the fair will be designed by Padma Shri awardee Vijay Sharma. Eight cultural evenings will be held at the Kala Kendra during the fair. One of these events has been granted special permission by the Department of Environment, Science and Technology, Shimla, to continue until midnight, while the remaining seven will conclude by 10 pm each night.

He instructed all departmental heads to make their official vehicles available to the district administration for VIP movement and other logistical needs during the fair, if required.

The meeting also featured extensive discussions on a wide range of topics including the cultural programs to be showcased during the fair, expenditure and revenue plans, invitation cards and souvenir publication, transportation and parking management, sports competitions, maintenance of Chaugan ground, drinking water and electricity supply, sanitation, and healthcare facilities. Discussions were also held on finalizing the theme for the 2025 fair and undertaking necessary repairs at Kala Kendra and Manjari Garden.

The meeting was attended by Chamba MLA Neeraj Nayar, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav, Additional District Magistrate Amit Mehra and SDM Chamba Priyanshu Khati, among other officials.