Himachal Pradesh: The four-day state-level Kinnaur Festival will begin from October 30 at the Mini Stadium in Reckong Peo. This was stated by Revenue, Horticulture, Tribal Development and Public Grievance Redressal Minister Jagat Singh Negi while chairing a meeting regarding the preparations for the Kinnaur Festival. During the meeting, the minister said that like previous years, this year too the festival will have cultural programs, sports competitions and exhibitions of various departments. He said that the exhibitions will showcase state-level standards, which will reflect the policies and programs of the government, so that the public can benefit from various initiatives. To ensure the convenience of the participants, the minister directed the Water Resources Department to set up temporary toilets at the festival site.
He also directed the officers present in the meeting to complete all the preparations of the festival at the mini stadium on time. During the meeting, it was decided that the chief guest of the opening and closing ceremony of the festival will be announced later. “Sub-committees have been formed for organising cultural programmes and sports competitions, comprising both government and non-government members, to maintain transparency in planning the event,” he said. “Local artists will be given priority in cultural programmes at the festival. The festival will include competitions aimed at preserving ancient cultural practices. Shehnai competition will be organised. The winners will be given cash prizes of Rs 50,000 for first place, Rs 30,000 for second place and Rs 20,000 for third place. Besides, women groups will participate in “mahanati” (folk dance), known as “kyang” in Kinnauri,” Negi said. During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of Kinnaur Festival Committee Dr Amit Kumar Sharma provided details of income and expenditure of last year’s festival.
