Winter carnival: Mussoorie revels in festive spirit

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, December 25

The Mussoorie Winterline Carnival began here today, bringing in festive spirit to the town.

The carnival was inaugurated by Chief Minister Harish Rawat by hoisting the carnival flag at Library Bazaar.

The festivities began with a procession taken out by folk artistes, sportspersons, adventure enthusiasts, singers and local rock band artistes. It started from Survey Chowk and ended at Library Bazaar.

The artistes, through their performances, displayed the colours and fragrances of their home states by dancing and singing in their traditional attire.

The tourists joined in by dancing and singing along at various DJ kiosks that were set up all along Mall Road. Chief Minister Harish Rawat reached Mussoorie around noon. He reached Hathipaon site and inaugurated the hot air balloon adventure sports activity amid loud cheers from the tourists.

Tourism Minister Dinesh Dhanai and member, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Sandeep Sahni availed the opportunity by taking a ride of the hot air balloon.

Dhanai said the ride would provide the tourists with the marvel of the Himalayas and the Doon Valley and the formation of winterline during the carnival period. The Chief Minister announced to open a museum at a dilapidated heritage building, popularly known as George Everest House, near Hathipaon.

Later, Rawat paid a visit to the various Christmas stalls and enjoyed the festival with children. Dressed up as Santa Clause, children presented him with bouquet and exchanged greetings.

He later inaugurated a musical fountain, constructed by the MDDA, displaying the scene from a traditional village in mural form at Jhoola Ghar.

The foundation stone of a scooter parking and the expansion of the Library Bus stand was also laid.

The Chief Minister interacted with youth at the Shaheed Sthal. He answered several queries put up by students and said the state would be opening around 200 model school across the state.

Rawat also laid the foundation stone of a cobblestone at the new market area in Mussoorie.

The carnival went on till late in the evening at Vikas Hotel where eminent Garhwali singer Narendar Singh Negi regaled the audience with his performance. The programmes of the carnival were on till the filing of the report.

CM enjoys rickshaw ride

Mussoorie: Chief Minister Harish Rawat looked in festive mood as he arrived to Mussoorie. Following the inauguration of the hot air ballooning activity, the CM took a ride on tricycle rickshaw from the Library Bazaar to Jhoola ghar.

Elated at the presence of a large number of tourists during the carnival, he said it would turn out to be a successful event.

He said Mussoorie had taken lead in winter carnivals and now even Nainital was following the footsteps. He thanked the people of Mussoorie for their effort.

The CM said he loved interacting with the youth under the CM Youth Programme and the questions posed by the students were difficult, but meaningful and desirous of an answer.