Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, June 7: In vibrant celebration of culture, heritage and tourism, the Directorate of Tourism Jammu, in collaboration with the District Administration Ramban, organized one-day Gool Mela at the picturesque Narsingha area amidst the lush green meadows of Gool Sub-Division.
The cultural festival witnessed an overwhelming response, with more than ten thousand people thronging the venue from across Ramban and Reasi districts . The mela transformed the scenic destination into a vibrant hub of cultural festivities, attracting tourists, local residents, youth and families alike.
The mela was inaugurated by MLA Banihal, Sajjad Shaheen, along with MLA Gulabgarh Khurshid Ahmad, Director Tourism Jammu Dr. Vikas Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan and SSP Ramban Arun Gupta.
Click here to watch video
Organized with the objective of promoting the immense tourism potential of the region, the mela served as a platform to showcase the rich cultural diversity, traditional heritage and breathtaking natural beauty of Gool and its adjoining areas while highlighting the region’s potential as an emerging tourist destination.
Addressing the gathering, MLA Banihal Sajjad Shaheen highlighted the vast tourism potential of Gool and Banihal areas and emphasized the need for sustained efforts to develop the region as a major tourist destination. He lauded the efforts of Directorate of Tourism Jammu for organizing the mela and creating opportunities for promoting local culture, handicrafts, traditional art forms and scenic attractions.
Director Tourism Jammu Dr Vikas Gupta highlighted the promotional initiatives being undertaken in Tourism Department under the leadership of Chief Minister. He emphasized that on the directions of Additional chief Secretary Tourism Dr Ashish Chander Verma the department is actively identifying and developing new tourist destinations across the Jammu especially offbeat destinations like Gool, Neeltop, Margantop, Mohu Valley, Tattapani to diversify tourism offerings and generate sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.
Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan highlighted the growing tourism prospects of Ramban district and called upon the youth to actively contribute towards promoting tourism and preserving the environment.
A major attraction of the mela was the array of stalls established by various Government departments, local entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups and artisans. Vibrant displays of local handicrafts, handloom products and traditional artefacts drew significant public interest and highlighted the rich craftsmanship of the region. Food stalls offering authentic local delicacies and traditional cuisines remained crowded throughout the day, providing visitors with a glimpse of the area’s rich culinary heritage.
On the occasion, the dignitaries felicitated artists and performers in recognition of their valuable contribution towards preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.
The programme was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Ramban Varunjeet Singh Charak, Joint Director Tourism Jammu Aijaz Qaiser, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Ramban Shoket Hayat Mattoo, Deputy Director (Planning), Tourism Jammu, Mamta Jamwal, Deputy Director Publicity, Tourism Jammu, Savita Chouhan, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gool Imtiaz Ahmed, district and sectoral officers, representatives of various departments, prominent citizens, members of civil society, local artisans, and a large number of visitors from across the region.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
