Site allotment starts for Kullu Dasehra

The Kullu Dasehra Festival Committee has earned revenue of Rs 24 lakh on the first day of the site allotment at Lal Chand Prarthi Kala Kendra here yesterday. A total of 56 sites were allotted for readymade garments, utensils and tent markets. The rates of the sites had not been increased this year and the process of site allotment will continue till September 30. Sites for eateries, swings and agricultural equipment were allotted here today. The festival committee earns a good income from the sale of sites, domes and tambola.

The festival will be held from October 13 to 19, but the traders will be allowed to operate here till Diwali. Traders from all over the country set up temporary stalls during the festival and attract a large number of people. Every year business worth crores is done during the Dasehra festival. People from Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Pangi of Chamba district and border areas of Mandi district reach the temporary market during Dasehra for shopping.

District Revenue Officer Ganesh Thakur said no person will be allotted more than four sites in the same market. He said, “The site buyer will have to give a copy of his GST registration certificate at the time of allotment. The traders cannot sublet their sites, for which complete transparency was being adopted in the work of allotment of shops and stalls for the Dasehra festival.”

He added that the tenders for allotment of big sites have also been floated and tambola allotment alone will fetch around Rs 2.12 crore.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sunder Singh Thakur, who is also the Chairman of Kullu Dasehra Festival Committee, said a conference of ambassadors of various countries will be held during the Kullu Dasehra and MoUs will be signed on cultural and commercial exchange.

He said, “Efforts are being made to get the maximum number of countries to participate in the International Folk Dance Festival. Grand cultural parade and Kullu carnival will be the centre of attraction. A special cultural programme will also be organised, in which a mix of Indian and foreign culture will be presented.”

The Chairman said every effort will be made to ensure that the glimpse of the historical tradition of Kullu Dasehra, which has been going on since the mid-17th century, is seen all over the world.

He said a curtain raiser of the festival has also been released. He added that the best cultural groups from Kullu will also be sent abroad. He added, “So far invitations have been sent to 332 local deities for this year’s event.”

56 sites allotted

• A total of 56 sites were allotted for readymade garments, utensils and tent markets. The rates of the sites have not been increased this year and the process of site allotment will continue till September 30
• The festival will be held from October 13 to 19, but the traders will be allowed to operate here till Diwali. Traders from all over the country set up temporary stalls during the festival and attract a large number of people
• District Revenue Officer Ganesh Thakur said no person will be allotted more than four sites in the same market
• Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sunder Singh Thakur said a conference of ambassadors of various countries will be held during the Kullu Dasehra and MoUs will be signed on cultural and commercial exchange