Tribute to martyrs at Mandi’s International Shivratri Festival
The second cultural evening of the International Shivratri Festival in Mandi was held under the theme “A Tribute to Martyrs.” The event was graced by Chander Shekhar, the MLA of Dharampur, who attended as the chief guest, accompanied by his wife, Kavita Shekhar.
Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, who also serves as the chairman of the International Shivratri Committee, presented handcrafted products by Mandav Him Ira to the Chief Guest as a token of appreciation. In addition, Devgan honoured several courageous women, particularly the wives of martyrs and defence personnel, for their unwavering strength. The honoured women included: Puspa Devi, wife of martyr Naik Dharam Singh; Neha Devi, wife of martyr Sepoy Sandeep Kumar; Vyasa Devi, wife of martyr Havaldar Prakash Chand; Sunita Devi, wife of martyr Sepoy Sheshram; Urmila Devi, wife of martyr Naik Inder Singh; Satya Devi, wife of martyr Nayab Subedar Khemraj; Lata Devi, wife of martyr Sepoy Tej Singh; Neetu Devi, wife of martyr Sepoy Bhupinder Kumar; Indira Devi, wife of martyr Sepoy Inder Singh; Bhanupriya, wife of martyr Nayab Subedar Rakesh Kumar; Shweta Devi, wife of martyr Havaldar Naval Kishore; Chinta Devi, wife of martyr Sepoy Kishan Chand; and Nirmala Devi, mother of martyr Sepoy Hira Singh,
The evening also saw the presence of officers from the Defence Women Welfare Association and the Ex-Servicemen League.
The event was a celebration of culture, with performances from local and international artists. Kuldeep Sharma, a popular Himachali singer, entertained the crowd with his energetic songs.
Adding to the cultural festivities, Mandi’s own Bhojpuri star, Sapna Chauhan, performed a traditional dance, embracing the region’s cultural heritage. Local folk singers and performers further enhanced the evening, while international cultural troupes from Malaysia and Kazakhstan offered unique glimpses of their respective cultural traditions.
The famous Himachali duo, Arjun Gopal and Ranjana Raghvanshi, performed their non-stop hits, including a powerful Shiva Stuti.
Although the inclement weather led to the cancellation of the expected visit from chief guest Vikramaditya Singh, MLA Chander Shekhar stepped in to lead the celebrations.
The evening not only celebrated local and international cultures but also served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by the brave martyrs and their families.
