![Artists honoured during cultural festival at Dudu in Udhampur district by Pir Panchal posing for a photograph with organizers. Artists honoured during cultural festival at Dudu in Udhampur district by Pir Panchal posing for a photograph with organizers.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/p-55.jpg)
Pir Panchal holds cultural festival
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Nov 18: A grand cultural festival was organized at Dudu tehsil in Udhampur district today by Pir Panchal a socio -cultural organization in which the artists from Pir Panchal belt and locals also participated with great zeal and enthusiasm.
On the occasion the local small scale entrepreneurs opened stalls for the public.
District Development Committee, Member, Pinki Devi and Ex MLA and senior BJP leader, Balwant Singh Mankotia were the chief guests on the occasion and all chairpersons of Block Development Committees , local Sarpanches and Panches were guests of honour.
In his address Balwant Singh Mankotia said it is a matter of great pleasure that Pir Panchal is taking an initiative of engaging the youth in promoting culture and language besides keeping in touch with civilization. He advised the younger generation to be alert and cautioned about the drug menace which is affecting the youngsters around the globe.
Mankotia said we are committed to development of the area by making it a tourist destination. He said it is picturesque spot and all efforts needed to be made to bring it on tourist map so that the economy of the area will get a boost.
Pinki Devi, DDC Member assured possible help to the Pir Panchal in promoting culture and organising such events in the far-flung areas like Dudu. She said holding such cultural events on grand scale in remote and far-flung areas will have a very good impact on younger generation and their energies can be channelized for development of their area as well as nation as a whole. Pir Panchal, president, Ramesh Hangloo complimented the artists and local organizers, and other dignitaries for making this cultural festival a grand success. He said our objective is to get the local talent connected from village to global level through social media. He also made mention of the artists participating are having thousands of followers on the live channels. He highlighted the success stories of these camps.
Avant Gupta Sarpanch also spoke on the occasion and invited Pir Panchal to have such type of events in her as well as other areas also.
The school children from three local Government schools participated and other participants included Ashok Hans, Abay Ram , Raj Kumar Khanna and Girdhari Lal. The programme was compared by Girdhari Lal and J K Raina.