Cases rising, no Spring Fest in Kullu this year

Kullu, April 16

The three-day-long state level Spring Festival, locally known as Pipal Jatra, will not be held this year. The fair is held normally from April 28 to 30 each year and traders from within and outside the state set up temporary stalls in Dhalpur ground as is done during the world famous Kullu Dasehra festival.

Due to the recent spike in the number of corona cases, the government has put restrictions on fairs, festivals and gatherings due to which the event will not be organized for the second consecutive year. Even last year the festival was not held due to Covid-induced lockdown.

Kullu Municipal Committee President Gopal Krishan Mahant said following recent guidelines by the government it will not be possible to conduct the Spring Festival. He said the meeting for reviewing preparations for the festival is generally held in the first week of April but no such exercise has been carried out this year.

He said no preparations had been made for the festival and it was unlikely that it would be organized even on a small scale. — OC