The Mussoorie Winterline Carnival 2016 was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Sunday that saw light rainfall in the plains and foothill coupled with light snowfall in higher regions caused a marked drop in the temperature. However, the winter chill appeared to have little effect on the various cultural performers and members of the audience who had gathered on the occasion marked by activities including cultural performances by noted folk singer Preetam Bhartwan among other presentations.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Chief Minister Harish Rawat greeted the public on the occasion expressing his best wishes for the winterline carnival and also for Christmas and New Year in advance. Expressing his views on the occasion, the chief minister said that Mussoorie and Nainital are vital components of the cultural heritage of the state and its people. He said that the State wants to develop Mussoorie and Nainital in the form of the State's identity. The CM further spoke about developing the George Everest house at Mussoorie as part of the identity of the queen of hills. On the occasion the chief minister also declared that the Hindi movie Dangal starring Amir Khan, would be accorded tax-free status in Uttarakhand. The CM also viewed the movie with others on the occasion. Earlier, noted folk singer also known as ‘Jagar Samrat’, Preetam Bhartwan enthralled the crowds with various renditions of folk compositions. The crowd of visitors, both local and those from outside the state, enjoyed the musical glimpse of Uttarakhand’s folk culture presented by Bhartwan’s performance. Before him, members of the Hill Foundation Group of Education, Dehradun performed the Ganesh Vandana and Saraswati Vandana before start of the evening performances on the inaugural day of the Mussoorie winterline carnival. The Mussoorie winterline carnival started in the afternoon with the inaugural parade from Survey Ground to landour Chowk. The inaugural parade presented an interesting mix of folk traditions, cultures, the colours of Uttarakhand’s culture and environment along with the performance of street artistes and thematic performances. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) and Gorkha Regiment bands also added to the enthusiasm among the crowds attending the carnival.