Festival to showcase rich cultural ethos, crafts of state: Jora

NEW DELHI: With a view to showcase the cultural diversity and to inculcate state’s consciousness amongst the people of the country and to bring about cultural cohesion, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in association with India international Centre (IIC) is holding a 3-day Jammu and Kashmir Festival from December 2nd , 2011 at IIC, New Delhi.
This was disclosed by the Minister for Tourism & Culture, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora during a press conference held at India International Centre, New Delhi on today.
Addressing the media persons, The Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir State has a unique blend of multifaceted cultures making it a fine example of unity in diversity. He said that the festival would provide an opportunity to the people to see and feel the multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi- ethnic facets of state with three divergent socio-political and geographical regions namely Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The state has rich cultural heritage cherished by age old traditions of peaceful co-existence and communal harmony with world famous handicrafts, environment, wild life and popular tourist destinations.
Rejecting the misconception of the people of other parts of the country that the situation in Jammu & Kashmir is not conducive for the tourists, the Minister said that the situation is fast improving and the influx of tourists in the state has touched a new land mark number of over 17.5 lakh in Kashmir Valley during this season which is a clear indicator of return of normalcy in the state. The tourism in Ladakh region of the state has also picked up momentum and a record number of 1.80 lakh tourist have visited the mountainous region which includes 36 thousand foreign tourists which is more than the population of the region.
He also disclosed that dozens of mountain peaks having height more than 6000 feet have been exposed to the trekkers this year to give a flip to adventure tourism in the state adding that there are hundreds of such virgin peaks which are being opened for the mountaineers shortly thus showcasing the Ladakh region of the state on world adventure tourism map. He said that people must realize and feel the truth for themselves by visiting the state to adjudge for themselves the normalcy and security in environs.
During three days festival the main highlights would be an art and photo exhibitions, screening of films, seminars on cultural heritage and environment, Mushaira, and captivating folk dances , theatre performance by famous theatre group, Natrang, traditional songs and dances, demonstration by artisans, Sufiana Kalam and Ladakhi Masked dances.
Among others Commissioner Secretary Tourism and Culture, Mr. Atal Dulloo, Addl Principal Resident Commissioner, Director Tourism Mr. Farooq Shah, Director IIC Dr. Kavita Sharma and other officers of different departments were present on the occasion.