The five-day long International Shimla Summer Festival opened with colourful start at the historic Ridge here with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh inaugurating the festival in which local people and tourists in large number participated with enthusiasm.
The Chief Minister evinced keen interest in the cultural programmes presented during the first cultural evening of the festival.
Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman, International Shimla Summer Festival Organising Committee, Rohan Thakur honoured the Chief Minister and other guests on the occasion.
Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmauri, Mayor Sanjay Chauhan, Chairperson, HP Red Cross Hospital Welfare Section Pratibha Singh, Vice Chairman, State Forest Development Corporation Kewal Singh Pathania and other senior officers of the State Government were also present.