Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 24 Oct: Blending Uttarakhand’s rich folk culture with the message of cleanliness, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (Doon Nagar Nigam) today organised a special public awareness initiative through a cleanliness rally and cultural programme at Parade Ground. The event brought together the vibrant folk traditions of Garhwal, Kumaon and Jaunsar to spread awareness about cleanliness, environmental protection and the importance of public participation. Municipal Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey flagged off the cleanliness rally and inaugurated the cultural programme.
Folk artistes enthralled the audience with traditional folk songs, music and dance performances, using the state’s rich cultural heritage as a medium to convey the message of cleanliness and environmental responsibility. The programme sought to highlight that preserving one’s cultural heritage and maintaining cleanliness in the city, public places and the natural environment are equally important responsibilities of every citizen.
According to the officials, the Nigam’s initiative is aimed at making folk culture an effective medium of public awareness and connecting the cleanliness campaign with wider community participation. Through the rally, citizens were encouraged not to litter public places, ensure proper disposal of waste and make cleanliness an integral part of their daily lives.
The folk traditions of Garhwal, Kumaon and Jaunsar are distinguished by their unique identities, traditional songs, music, dance forms and strong community participation. By integrating these cultural traditions with the cleanliness campaign, the Municipal Corporation has sought to use local cultural expressions to promote a sense of social responsibility among citizens. The participation of folk artistes played an important role in conveying the message in a manner that was both engaging and rooted in the region’s cultural identity.
On the occasion, citizens were urged to dispose of their waste only at designated collection points or hand it over to municipal garbage collection vehicles. They were also advised to segregate wet and dry waste, refrain from littering public places and avoid the use of prohibited single-use plastic. The public was further urged to remain conscious of environmental protection and actively contribute towards maintaining cleanliness in the city.
The Dehradun Municipal Corporation has been undertaking various public awareness activities to encourage citizens to participate in the cleanliness campaign. As part of these efforts, the integration of folk culture with the cleanliness rally sought to reinforce the message that maintaining cleanliness is not merely the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation but a collective social responsibility of every citizen.
The officials assert that Dehradun can be transformed into a clean, beautiful and healthy city only through public cooperation, collective efforts and greater cultural and environmental awareness. The Municipal Corporation also appealed to citizens to draw inspiration from Uttarakhand’s rich cultural heritage, make cleanliness a habit and actively participate in the endeavour to build a cleaner Dehradun.
