Jammu festival lures tourists with cultural bonanza

JAMMU: Organized by the Tourism Department of Jammu and Kashmir, the first day of the fortnight long Jammu festival showcased a variety of traditional and cultural programmes, performed by prominent artistes in the Jammu festival.

According to Ajay Khajuna, the Director of tourism, the festival is hoped to boost the tourism in the State.

"This is an attempt to highlight the beautiful places, pilgrim centres and other attractions. We expect that we will be able to bring to focus almost all the tourist destinations within the State," said Ajay Khajuna.

Being held at the Mubarak Mandi Palace Complex with heritage buildings around, the illumination, fireworks and light music was a major attraction for the visitors on the first day.

"Mind- blowing, it was the best show I've ever visited in my whole life. It was amazing, it was totally a new thing in Jammu, so it was just fantastic," said Ragini, one visitor at the festival.

"I liked it very much and the festival that has taken place for the first time has given much importance to Jammu. We are thankful for it. I would say that good shows like this should be organised every year in Jammu so that Jammu's importance will increase day by day," said Sudarshan Wazir, another visitor.

The main attraction of the event, however, would be a car rally passing through all the tourist spots notified by the Department of Tourism in the Jammu region.

Popular Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam would perform at the M A Stadium in Jammu during the festival. Other events of the festival include rural sports competition at District headquarters grounds.

Street plays, a handicraft and handloom exhibition, hot air balloon and helicopter joyrides, Dogra wedding ceremony scene and city walk are some of the other major features of the festival which are likely to attract tourists during this ongoing cultural carnival.