Deputy CM inaugurates Chintpurni festival

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri inaugurated the maiden Mata Chintpurni festival at Amb on Thursday. The three-day festival began at the Ramlila ground with a procession as the holy lamp lighted from the ‘Jyoti’ at the Mata Chintpurni shrine reached the festival’s venue. Agnihotri received the holy lamp and placed it at the designated place in the venue.

The Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the charge of the Art, Language and Culture Department, said fairs and festivals reflect the rich cultural and religious traditions of the state. “Himachal Pradesh is known as the land of deities, and devotees from all over the world come to pay obeisance and seek blessings at shrines and temples of the state,” he stated.

Agnihotri said the state government had launched many new initiatives for the benefit of devotees. These include the ‘Sugam Darshan’ scheme, where a group of five devotees can get the benefit of VIP ‘darshan’ by paying Rs 1,100. Besides, the government has allowed easy ‘darshan’ for physically challenged persons and senior citizens free of cost, he added.

He further said that the temple would soon have a ropeway to benefit visitors, and the corridor around the shrine was being widened to make space for public convenience, langar halls, devotional centres and places for resting. He said facilities at the multi-purpose tourist complex, Mai Dass Sadan, were also being strengthened.

The festival would include religious preaching, cultural shows, sports events, exhibitions and public awareness shows. Sufi singer Satinder Sartaaj performed during the first cultural night on Thursday. Punjabi singer Lakhwinder Wadali will perform on the second cultural night, when HP Tourism Development Corporation Chairman RS Bali will be the chief guest. Kulwinder Billa will be the star singer on September 28.

Earlier, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was scheduled to inaugurate the festival. However, the Deputy CM, who was accompanied by Chintpurni MLA Sudarshan Babloo, former Chintpurni MLA Kuldip Kumar and District Congress president Ranjit Rana, inaugurated the event.

Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal, who is also the chairman of the Mata Chintpurni Temple Trust, and SP Rakesh Singh were also present at the inauguration ceremony.