Shimla Flying Fest, Hospitality Expo kicks off at Junga

Around 59 paragliders, including 15 from seven different countries, will be showcasing their paragliding skills in the third edition of the Shimla Flying Festival & Hospitality Expo that was inaugurated at Junga, Shimla district today.

On the first day, one trial-cum-acclimatisation round and one competitive round were successfully completed by the participating pilots, marking an exciting start to the championship. The festival was flagged off by Naresh Chauhan, Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, in the presence of dignitaries, officials, and participants from India and abroad.

The inauguration ceremony kicked off with a beautiful cultural presentation by local students of Junga, who performed the traditional Nati. Besides paragliding, the festival also features a hospitality expo in which over 60 MSMEs and self-help groups are showcasing local made products as well as food items.

AK Gautam, DFO, MSMEs, shared details about the various schemes being implemented by the Centre across India. He especially encouraged participation under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, under which more than 19,000 beneficiaries have already availed benefits in Himachal Pradesh.

Earlier, Arun Rawat, organiser of the festival, welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries and apprised them of the role of the Shimla Flying Festival in promoting tourism activities in Shimla and across Himachal Pradesh.

Rawat said that the festival, also a Pre-World Cup and Pre-Asian League Championship, continued to position Shimla as a global destination for adventure sports and sustainable tourism. “The concurrent hospitality expo provides a platform for MSMEs and self-help groups to exhibit their products, promoting local entrepreneurship and craftsmanship,” he added.

He also said that former WWE superstar Dalip Singh Rana, professionally known as the Great Khali, will be present on the second day of the event, during which he will encourage the youth to stay away from drugs and to choose sports for overall development.