Excelsior Correspondent
![Financial Commissioner Khurshid Ahmed Ganai inaugurating Handicraft Exhibition at Jammu on Saturday.](http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/page10-35.jpg)
JAMMU, Jan 10: Financial Commissioner, Industries and Commerce Khurshid Ahmed Ganai inaugurated 15-day long State Level Exhibition-Cum-Sale at Dussehra Ground, Gandhi Nagar this afternoon.
Secretary Industries and Commerce Sourabh Bhagat, Director Handicrafts Tariq Ahmed Ganai, Joint Director Handicrafts Manisha Sareen, Deputy Director Handicrafts Anju Gupta besides other senior officers from Handicrafts Department were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Financial Commissioner Industries and Commerce Khurshid Ahmed Ganai appreciated the efforts of the handicrafts in putting up elegant display of handcrafts products of the State. He said that handicrafts of the J&K are famous world over for intricate designs, precision and high quality. He said Handicrafts Department provided genuine products to the buyers without exploitation of the middlemen besides showcasing state’s rich arts and crafts at national and international levels.
Financial Commissioner Industries and Commerce said that State’s handicrafts and handlooms are linked to its ancient civilization, heritage and culture and they have enjoyed the privilege and patronage of the Royal Kings and Mughals in the past. He asked the officers of the Handicrafts Department to explore modern marketing channels in the world market to promote sale of Dogri and Kashmiri handicrafts.
Earlier, the Cultural Wing of Information Department organized variety programme on the inaugural day of 15-day long State Level Exhibition-Cum-Sale.
The artists presented Dogri, Punjabi, Sufiana and Kashmiri songs which were highly applauded by the audience.
The artists of Cultural Wing of Information Department who participated in the cultural programme included Jeevan Sharma, Vijay Anand, Kamal Kumar, Bodh Raj, Banti Kumar, Zulikha Farid, Abhishek Sharma and Monika Sharma enthralled the audience with their melodious voices.
The programme began with a Dogri song “Ko Ko, Ayun Chain Chain Katny Niya Roin” by Monika Sharma. Besides, the melodious performance in Sufiana by Zulikha Farid and Dogri song by Abhishek Sharma and Jeevan Sharma were also highly appreciated.
Renowned senior artist Jeevan Sharma who presented masterpiece of Padma Sachdev ‘Sanjh roungli te ghatt aye duaas mati aye’, fascinated the music lovers.
Later, Joint Director Handicrafts Manisha Sareen presented vote of thanks on the occasion.