By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 25 Dec: The Mussoorie Winterline Carnival 2018 was formally inaugurated by Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal and Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi by hoisting the carnival flag at Library Chowk, here, today. MLA Ganesh Joshi welcomed Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal with a bouquet and shawl.
Earlier, the Winter Carnival procession was jointly flagged of by Mussoorie SDM Minakshi Patwal and Municipal Chairman Anuj Gupta. Programmes were presented by artists from various states, which enthralled the audience. The cultural programme added to the enthusiasm of the crowd attending the carnival. A huge crowd of tourists was seen and appreciated the programme and arrangements made by the carnival committee.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Subodh Uniyal expressed his best wishes for the carnival and also for Christmas, and New Year in advance. Uniyal said that Mussoorie and Nainital were vital components of the cultural heritage of the state and its people. The State wished to develop Mussoorie and Nainital. After the huge disaster of 2013 in Uttarakhand, the entire tourism industry was affected, as was the economy of the state. To promote tourism, the state government and district administration had organised the Winterline Carnival and, in five years, it was a great success. The big problem of Mussoorie was traffic jams and he suggested that the District Magistrate make a plan to make the Mussoorie Dehradun Road one way for vehicles.
The carnival started in the afternoon with the inaugural parade from Survey Ground to Landour Chowk. The 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.
MLA Ganesh Joshi said that the culture of Uttarakhand had a distinctive pattern, with elements from each of the ethnic groups and sub-groups that reside in the state. The culture of Uttarakhand was at a juncture where the different cultures of Kumaon-Garhwal met. Chairman Anuj Gupta told media persons that the carnival would give tourists an opportunity to re-explore Mussoorie.
Dehradun DM and event’s organising committee Chairman, SA Murugesan, said, “We want to showcase the serene beauty of Mussoorie with this carnival. Tourism has revived after the flash floods of June 2013.”
Present on the occasion were Uttarakhand Hotel Association President Sandeep Sahni, City Magistrate Manoj Goyal, Mussoorie BJP President Mahan Petwal, Anil Godiyal, RN Mathur, Sanjay Aggarwal, former MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, former chairman OP Uniyal and many others.
