Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 13: Lohri observed to mark the end of peak Winter as per popular belief was today celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety across the Jammu region today.
It is also being observed as beginning of longer days as the Sun proceeds on its Northward journey. Though it is mostly the festival of Punjab,it is also celebrated in Jammu, Himachal, Haryana and Delhi.
Directorate of Tourism, Jammu, for the first time organized a function at Bahu Gondola Station Jammu to celebrate Lohri-the auspicious festival, symbolizing fertility and the spark of life.
The event started with lighting of traditional lamp by Mayor Jammu Municipal Corporation, Chander Mohan Gupta, the Chief Guest and Director Tourism, Jammu, R.K Katoch amid chanting of Vedic mantras.
Chander Mohan Gupta, appreciated the efforts of Directorate of Tourism, Jammu for the advertisement and publicity of different destinations on large scale including the Bahu Gondola Station. “Gondola was a dream project for the public and the Tourism Department has fulfilled it” he said and complimented the Government on behalf of the people of Jammu for this wonderful project. The event was held by strictly following COVID-19 protocols.
On the occasion, the guests and participants prayed for peace and prosperity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and hoped for manifold increase of the tourist influx in J&K UT in 2021.
A large number of locals and tourists also participated in the event with fervor and gaiety. A scintillating Cultural bonanza held on the occasion enthralled the audience, who encouraged the artist with great applause.
In his address, Director Tourism, Jammu said that the spree of events/festivals like World Tourism Day, Christmas Day, Winter Carnival, Dogra food festival, several trekking expeditions were organized by the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu to stress out the tourism sector stakeholders in Jammu Division and tourists from the Covid-19 pandemic to a larger extent.
Majeed Khalid Ahmad Drabu, MD Cable Car Corporation; Anil Kumar Chandail, Deputy Director Tourism Publicity, Jammu, along with officers/officials of Directorate of Tourism, Jammu besides representatives of J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages and Tourism stakeholders were also present on the occasion.
Another function was organised by Bhartiya Yog Sansthan (BYS) Jammu which celebrated the festival with fervour and gaiety. In this connection simple and impressive function was organized at its Gole Gujral Ashram near here, today which was attended by large number of Yog Sadhakas besides various prominent citizens of Jammu.
Mayor JMC, Chander Mohan Gupta was the chief guest. Satya Pal Sharma president of the Sansthan also spoke on the occasion. The Mayor on the occasion honoured Simridhi Sharma and Ridhima Sharma, two KAS officers.
In Jammu people celebrated Lohri with traditional fervour and gaiety by greeting each other and performing traditional Bhangra and beating the drums. The people by holding get- togethers also burnt bonfire to warm themselves and bid farewell to biting Winter at various places and Mohallas.
The children were seen busy in singing the folk Lohri songs and taking Lohri from people in different localities. Some organizations also celebrated Lohri with the children of orphanages and old age homes and offered fruits and sweets to them.
As per reports the festival of Lohri was also celebrated in districts of Samba, Kathua, Udhampur , Ramban Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar and Rajouri with full charm and enthusiasm by the people.
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