Manali winter celebrations from Jan 20

The five-day long national-level Manali Winter Carnival will be held from January 20 to 24 this year instead of January 2 to 6.

Manali SDM Raman Sharma said the Winter Carnival committee decided that the purpose of the carnival was to attract tourists. However, the town already witnesses heavy tourist influx till January 5 in the wake of New Year season. The SDM added, “It was decided that the carnival would be held in the lean season and a proposal has been sent to hold the same from January 20.” Meanwhile, there are mixed views from the residents and tourism beneficiaries regarding postponing the event.

Got national-level status in 2011

During the last three decades, along with the expansion of the tourism industry in Manali, there has also been an expansion in the nature of Winter Carnival.Now folk culture and many other aspects have also been added to it. It attracts tourists to Kullu-Manali during the off-season after the New Year. In order to expand the event, the then CM Prem Kumar Dhumal gave Winter Carnival the status of state-level festival in 1999. After this, the carnival continued to grow and in 2011, it was given a national-level status

Gopal, a resident, said, “It is good that the event has been postponed because the tourist hotspot Manali already witnesses heavy footfall during the Christmas and New Year season.” Harish, a local, said the carnival assists in prolonging the stay of the visitors after the New Year and not holding the event then might have adverse impact on the number of tourists.

He further stated that such decisions should not be taken in a haste like it had been taken this year. Senior residents of Manali said some organisations and winter sports lovers of Manali started organising the event by conceptualising the Winter Carnival in the 1970s.

A senior resident Rajesh Sharma said its main purpose at the time was to promote winter sports. He added, “Harnam Singh, the then director of the Mountaineering institute, Manali, had an important role in starting this event.”

Over time, despite many ups and downs, the tradition of organising the event in one form or the other remained. Despite limited resources and financial constraints, the people of Manali and various organisations kept the essence of the Winter Carnival alive.

Event could lose its charm

The carnival is a major event and it has made its mark over the years. Changing the dates will have a drastic impact on the outlook of the festival and it might lose its charm. Other steps could be initiated to attract tourists during the lean season and it should be ensured that the tradition of carnival that has been continuing for decades does not lose its sheen — Manish, a tourism beneficiary