Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday inaugurated the 490th Shivratri Fairs of Mandi with traditional prayer of the state deity Madho Rai, with great fanfare and religious fervor at the sprawling Padal Stadium.
Earlier a colourful divine Shobha Yatra, led by Madho Rai marched from the mini-secretariat to the venue of the fairs at Padal. Chief Minister, officials and elite of the town wearing colourful turbans also joined the procession. Contingents of mounted Police, Home guards, NCC and boys and girls of different educational institutions followed the Shobha Yatra.
The star attraction of the divine march was over 215 hill deities marching in the Shobha Yatra accompanied by thousands of devotees dressed in their unique tribal attires. The entire town was resounding with the melodious tunes of hill orchestra and other traditional instruments. The bands of military, police and Home Guards were adding grace to the International Shivratri Fairs.
The hill town wore a festive look. Shops and temples had been tastefully decorated. Men and women dressed in their best were lining on both the sides of the road to Padal and were spraying flower-petals on the gods and goddesses.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the fairs by unfurling the Shivratri Flag and later also inaugurated the exhibitions. Speaking on the occasion he said the fairs and festivals of Himacahal Pradesh had played a great role in preserving the rich cultural heritage of the hill State.