Stressing on making elaborate arrangements for Baisakhi Festival 2016, Minister of State for Education, Tourism, Culture, Technical Education, Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks Mrs. Priya Sethi Saturday said that festival is a celebration of our rich cultural heritage and every dimension of our culture be it food, music, dance or art should be showcased in a splendid manner.The Minister said this while chairing a meeting convened to review the arrangements for Baisakhi Festival here today .She called upon the concerned departments and various organisations to work in synergy for making the festival a great success besides making the celebrations eco-friendly .She maintained that the event should be given a wide publicity so that maximum people specially the youth join the festival and get a chance to reconnect with our roots .She asked the concerned to ensure that the programme focuses on highlighting the traditional dance forms ethnic food and culture of the state .
The Minister directed the PWD and Jammu Municipal Corporation to ensure upkeep of main rotaries and roads besides proper decorations during the festival . SSP Traffic Jammu has been directed to ensure hassle free movement of the procession from Vivekanand Chowk-Raghunath Bazar-City Chowk-Purani Mandi-Raj Tilak Road-Moti Bazar- Pacca Danga-Chowk Chabutra-Mubarak Mandi.The Minister also instructed for displaying of agri- products, heritage photographs besides hoarding at conspicuous places.The Minister was apprised that the procession of contingents from various ethnic groups under the aegis of Dogra Saddar Sabha will be taken out on April at 11.00 am from Viveknanad Chowk to Mubarak Mandi. It was also informed that more than 600 artists are participating in the various cultural programmes.It was given out that ethnic food stalls will be installed by the concerned Business Associations in Raghunath Bazar, Kanak Mandi, Shahidi Chowk, Veer Marg, Rajinder Bazar for which Tourism Department will provide necessary logistic support. Tourism department in collaboration with J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages will also organise cultural programmes at Ghas Mandi Chowk, and Residency Road while Christian Dalit Society and Muslim Federation will organize cultural programmes at Shahidi Chowk in the evenings during the festival days .
Earlier, the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal and Director Tourism Jammu apprised the Minister about the arrangements being made for the festival.Senior officers of various departments and the representatives of Dogra Saddar Sabha, Jammu, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee Jammu, Dharmarth Trust, Raghunath Bazar Businessmen Association Jammu, Muslim Federation Jammu. Hotel, Bar and Restaurant Association of Jammu and All Jammu Hotel and Lodges Association of Jammu attended the meeting.