Himachal Pradesh: The state-level Janmashtami festival will begin from Friday at the historic Brijraj Swami temple in Nurpur. Earlier it was a district-level event, but in 2021, during the tenure of the Jai Ram Thakur government, it was given state-level status on the initiative of the then local MLA and former minister Rakesh Pathania. The local administration has finalised the plan for the two-day festival for August 15 and 16.
Agriculture Minister Chandra Kumar will inaugurate the festival by leading a colourful procession from the Chogan Maidan to the temple on Friday afternoon. After the puja-archana, he will preside over the ‘Dahi-Handi’ event. Punjabi folk singer Gaurav Kaundal and the Foladhi Band will perform at the inaugural ceremony. Nurpur SDM Arun Sharma said that the closing ceremony on Saturday will be presided over by Bhawani Singh Pathania, Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission and MLA from Fatehpur in Kangra district. On the second day, Bollywood singers Gagan Singh and Anuj Sharma along with Himachali folk singer Ishan Bhardwaj will also perform.
