Governor Aziz Qureshi inaugurated the annual cultural event, the Shardotsav, in the lake city Nainital on Tuesday.
Speaking on this occasion the Governor said the Shardotsav played a significant role in promoting tourism in the region. Impressed with the cultural programs presented by the students of different schools, he said that these programmes only reflected India’s unity in diversity.
Among others MlA from Nainital Sarita Arya, Nainital municipal council chairman Shyam Narayan and VC Kumaon University H S Dhami were also present on this occasion.
‘Shardotsav’, a symbol of Uttarakhand’s cultural identity that also marks the beginning of the winter season, will continue till November 14. Folk music and dance and cultural shows, ‘Kavi Sammelan’, photo exhibitions, display of the products made by local craftsmen to name a few programmes will be special attractions of this year’s Shardotsav.
The ‘Shardotsav’ not only promotes the hill state’s rich cultural heritage but also gives an opportunity to the new budding folk artists to showcase their talents. Overall, it comes as a huge opportunity to give momentum to the tourism sector which remains rather a low key affair during the winter season here.
Apart from the tourism sector and the folk artists, the local traders, entrepreneurs engaged in traditional trading activities, handicrafts to name few may also have an opportunity to showcase their products in this festival.
Therefore, apart from organising a variety of cultural programmes , as many as 100 stalls have also been sets up to give maximum exposure to products made by small scale industries or craftsmen, khadi to name a few in this occasion.