The week-long International Minjar fair of Chamba concluded here on Sunday amidst jubilation as Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh led and participated in the historic Shobha Yatra, a tradition since times immemorial.

Adorned in a colourful turban, the Chief Minister was tied Minjar (silken tassel worn on front parts of the dress, symbolising top blossoms of maize plant). The procession started from the Akhand Chandi Palace and passed through the main bazaar, wherein thousands of people from all over the district dressed in their traditional and colourful attire thronged on both sides of the roads to have glimpse of the procession accompanied by lord Raghuvir, the principal deity of the town, who was carried in a beautifully decorated palanquin along-with the Chadi, (insignia) of local Gods and Goddesses.

The procession finally culminated at Manjari Garden, where traditional ‘Kunjari Malhar’ was sung and the Chief Minister immersed the Minjar and coconuts in river Ravi.

The Chief Minister also presided over the closing ceremony of traditional ‘Chinj’ (wrestling) competition at the historic Chaugan and  presented the prizes to the winners of the various competitions.

A colourful Dandaras dance (Tribal Nritya) of Bharmour region was also performed at Chamba Chaugan.

Earlier, Virbhadra Singh inaugurated Rs 14 crore Rajiv Gandhi Polytechnic College accompanied by Transport and Technical Education Minister GS Bali. The Chief Minister also announced starting of Mechanical trade in the Polytechnic College and construction of hostel for the students to cost around three crore rupees.

While speaking on the occasion at Banikhet, Chief Minister said that during the present government regime, seven Polytechnic Institutes and 38 new Industrial Training Institutes had been opened in the state.

He said that the vocational training centres, whether it may be Polytechnic or ITIs were the need of the hour to make the youth try their hands in the trades they have interest and make them self-employable.

Transport Minister GS Bali detailed about the technical institutes opened during the present Government regime and said that besides these institutes, Rs 120 crore Hydro Engineering college was being opened at Bilaspur, in district Bilaspur and Central Institute of Plastic Technology at Baddi.

The Chief Minister accompanied by GS Bali, Thakur Singh Bharmouri and Asha Kumari   also inaugurated Millenium Polytechnic College at Sarol in Chamba constructed with an outlay of Rs 4.37 crore. Both the Polytechnic colleges were constructed by HIMUDA.

Virbhadra Singh also dedicated a bridge over Kehlala Nallah on Chamba Sahoo road completed with an outlay of Rs 1.66 crore to benefit a population of 10000 of five panchayats namely Gowari, Kidi, Raan, Paliur, and Padhar.