Himachal Governor Acharya Devvrat on Friday presided over the concluding ceremony of the week-long International Shivratri Fair at Mandi saying fairs and festivals of Himachal Pradesh were unique in their own way and were means for celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the State.
Acharya Devvrat said that culture and its heritage reflect and shape values, beliefs, and aspirations besides defining our national identity. He said that we should be aware of our culture and traditions and added that it was our responsibility to keep them alive for our coming generations, so that they could take pride in their glorious past and have the same opportunities to learn about their own roots as we have.
The Governor said that fairs and festivals provide new energy to the people and we should actively participate in them besides helping the suffering humanity with selflessness. He said that it was the responsibility of every individual to eradicate social evils from the society. He appealed the youth to respect the rich culture and take
it forward.
Earlier, Acharya Devvrat paid obeisance at Madhorai Temple and also participated in the Jaleb Shobha Yatra. He also participated in ‘Bhoj’ .
The Governor also visited the exhibition put up by different Government departments and other organisations. He evinced keen interests in the exhibits displayed. Sandeep Kadam, Deputy Commissioner, Mandi and Chairman Mela Committee welcomed the Governor.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anil Sharma, Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma, MlA Jai Ram Thakur, Divisional Commissioner Mandi, Devesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police Prem Thakur, senior officer of the district administration and other prominent people were also present on the occasion.