Curtailed, Snow Festival in Himachal's Lahaul from today

Our Correspondent

Kullu, January 13

Cultural festivities and sports competitions will not be part of the Snow Festival at Lahaul due to the resurgence of Covid.

The festival will start with rituals at Trilokinath Temple from tomorrow. The fair, which started last year and lasted for 75 days, will be celebrated in a subdued way this time due to Covid. The ‘festival of festivals’ was celebrated by linking various rituals, fairs and events of the valley to showcase the distinctive culture of the tribal region.

Lahaul and Spiti officiating Deputy Commissioner Priya Nagta said in the wake of increasing Covid cases and the adverse weather conditions, the celebrations would be curtailed. The weather was not conducive and only 4X4 vehicles were plying on a few roads of Lahaul.

Cultural events would not be held and conditions would be reviewed during February and March. She added that various traditional festivals like Halda, Udang, Fagli, Losar, Kuns, Zukaru, Gochi, Poona, Yor, Yeti, Buchhang, Dala and Teshu will be

celebrated by the local masses in their houses.

Technical Education and Tribal Development Minister Ram Lal Markanda said the ancient Udang Mela, which is celebrated as New Year, would be celebrated for 7 days this time. The fair would start from Trilokinath Temple tomorrow. After the bath, the deities would enter the temple and various programmes be organised for seven days in which outsiders were not being invited, he added.

He said, “We had planned to celebrate it extensively and Rs 25 crore has also been approved from NABARD.” Changes had also been made to connect the present generation with the traditional culture.

The minister said the main objective of the festival was to showcase the ancient and rich heritage in harmony with the religious beliefs and local customs of the valley. In future, winter sports would also be added to this festival to attract tourists. Tourists would be taken to attractive and untouched places.