Baisakhi festival organized at border town
Lalit Gupta
SUCHETGARH, Apr 13:
The border town of Suchetgarh reverberated with beats of drums and rhythmic steps of dancers to mark the Baisakhi festival celebrations and also the laying of foundation of the Tourist Facility Center, which is being seen by the locals as a boost towards developing the border town as a tourist destination.
Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Tourism and culture, has said that Suchetgarh would be developed a mega Border tourist destination for pilgrim tourists visiting Mata Vaishno Devi and other holy shrines of Jammu division, adding that in this regard a project of Rs. 6.39 crore is under implementation for creation of tourist related infrastructure in the area.
Laying foundation of restoration and conservation work of historical Ragunath temple at Suchetgarh in presence of R S Chib, Minister for Medical Education and Youth Services and Sports and Ch Sham Lall, MLA Suchetgarh, Jora said that conservation work of this temple would be completed at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore. He said an amphitheatre would be also constructed in Suchetgarh and instructed concerned authorities to evict the encroached land at the temple site at the earliest for the purpose and celebration of Baisakhi festival would be now made an annual feature in Suchetgarh.
R S Chib said that opening border tourism in Suchetgarh is a remarkable step of the State Government, adding that this would not only boost local economy but also a source of inspiration for coming generation.
He said for promotion of border tourism in Suchetgarh and R S Pura a prestigious project of Rs 6.39 crore is being implemented for creation of different tourist infrastructure facilities. He said under the project several works are being executed which included construction of road to BSF, dormitory, pick and chose restaurant, watch towers, tourist facilitation centre, installation of fountains, landscaping, pathways, shelter places at temple and Peer Baba, development of children parks at R S Pura, improvement of track up to Gharana bird sanctuary, toilet block of old Railway Station R S Pura and Suchetgarh.
Former Minister, Gharu Ram, R S Mehta, Director Tourism Jammu, Arvinder Singh Aman, additional secretary, Cultural Academy, were among others present on the occasion.
Later, the Ministers inaugurated celebration of Baisakhi festival at Suchetgarh. The festival organized by Tourism Department in collaboration with J&K Cultural Academy, was participated by hundreds of people of the area who witnessed cultural programs, which were presented by local artists of the division.
The cultural program ably anchored by Jag Mohan, started with Kud dance by Krishan Singh and Party from Reasi. It was followed by Bhangra dance item by artistes of Navrang Dance Academy, Udhampur. The all female dancers’ item was a mix of modern and traditional dance steps. The next presentation was Dogri folk Geetru, which was performed by Ram Prakash and party from Ramnagar. After Manvir Singh Lali and group sang and danced on Punjabi song ‘Jamla Jat’, Dogri Bhaakh was presented by Bishan Singh and party. The other items, which were highly appreciated by the audience, included Geetru, Bhangra performances by Navrang Dance Academy and Manvir Singh Lali and group.
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