KUPWARA, NOVEMBER 13: Tourism Department in collaboration with District Administration Kupwara today organized first ever Lolab Festival at Chandigam which was attended by a galaxy of participants from different walks of life. The objective of the festival was to foster the efforts for promoting the tourism and bringing the virgin and hidden tourist places of Lolab valley to the limelight.
Vice Chairman DDC, Haji Farooq Ahmad Mir; Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Imam Din; Director Tourism, G. N. Itoo, ADC Kupwara, Ghulam Nabi; SDM Lolab, Aijaz Ahmad; DDC Member Sogam, Nasir Nazir, Officers from Civil Administration, besides, PRIs and large number of public participated in the day long festival.
On the arrival, Director Tourism and Deputy Commissioner flagged off a marathon organized by Youth Services & Sports department from Chandigam in which NYCs and Rehbar-e-Khel volunteers participated.
Later, the dignitaries inaugurated the day long Lolab Festival.
The dignitaries inspected stalls installed by various departments including Agriculture, Horticulture, Sheep, Animal Husbandry, CAPD, KVIB, Apiculture, Floriculture and Handicrafts.
The stall organizers gave awareness to the participants about various welfare and development schemes initiated by the Government from time to time.
The dignitaries also planted pine saplings in the compound of Chandigam TRC.
At the beginning of the programme, a colourful Kashmiri Rowf was presented before the audience.
In his welcome address, the Deputy Commissioner hoped that the festival, first of its kind in the Lolab valley will go a long way in promotion of tourism potential of the virgin valley Lolab. He welcomed all the guests who came in the festival including the PRIs and general people. The complete festival was hosted by famous anchor and broadcaster Tabraiz Madani.
Addressing the media persons, the Director Tourism said that the Tourism Department J&K have identified 75 places across J&K UT which have not been publicized yet adding that Lolab valley is also in those places which have not been explored yet. He said that the department is organizing tourism festival in all such places in coming days beginning with Lolab in collaboration with District Administrations. He said that the aim of organizing Lolab festival is to provide a platform for boosting local culture and agriculture varieties so that people across the globe could know what is offered here.
Later, the dignitaries felicitated the students of Kupwara district with mementos who have registered brilliant performance in recent NEET Examination. Top 2 marathon winners were also felicitated.
The one day Lolab Festival which saw a healthy participation of large number of people who got enthralled by the attractive and fascinating varied cultural programmes including performance by singer Waqar Khan, Band Pather, Chakdi-Rof, folk music, punjabi music etc.