Excelsior Correspondent
RAMNAGAR, Nov 6: Historic Gandh Mela at Gandh-Top began today with traditional pomp and show amongst the thumping of drums, blowing of trumpets, playing of flute/local musical instruments, and presentation of cultures programmes by local artists and school children by MLA Ramnagar Ranbir Singh Pathania.
The Mela was inaugurated by MLA Ramnagar, Ranbir Singh Pathania, who while speaking on the occasion, said these festivals represent our diverse culture and there is an urgent need to preserve and carry forward these social gathering. He said that Dogra culture is quite unique and diverse. He said that artists from this area have made mark for themselves not only at national but at international level.
Earlier, Pathania visited various stalls put up in Mela by various departments and that of Cultural Academy and Health Department. Pathania also interacted with local public who were quite jubilant.
It was a part of same initiative that these Melas were adopted by the Government at the instance of local MLA who is out and out to preserve, promote and project local artists and folk dance and songs/music so that a viable launching pad is afforded to local artists too.
Additional secretary of Cultural Academy, representatives of information Deptartment, PDD, PHE, Revenue, Education and other line departments remained present.
Pertinently, these Melas and festivals represent our traditional culture and ethos but were virtually getting redundant. However after taking over as legislator of the area, Pathania took personal interest in reviving these ancient Melas, which were given a push and support from Government side.
Due to the personal intervention of Pathania, artists from Cultural Academy Jammu for the first time displayed their performances in this Mela.
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