Excelsior Correspondent
KULGAM, Mar 22: In order to boost tourist activity in the Kund block of district Kulgam and to showcase rich cultural heritage, the District Administration today organized the first ever Vasaknag Festival.
The area which hosted the festival is popular for the Spring of Vasaknag which is a seasonal spring which remain brimmed with waters only for 6 months.
The function organised for Vasaknag Festival was presided by Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-din Bhat. DDC Chairperson, Mohammad Afzal Parrey was Guest of Honour on the occasion.
ADDC, Showkat Ahmad Rather, DDC member, Gulzar Ahmad Shiekh, BDC member Kund, ACR, ACD, DIO, DYSSO, Tehsildar, BDO, ZEO and other districts and tehsil level officers were present on the occasion besides hundreds of senior citizens, women, youth and school children.
During the festival the departments of RDD & PR, Revenue, Education, Information & PR, YS&S, Forest and local Auqaf committee worked in collaboration to presented an impressive function.
Children of various schools presented skits, stage dramas, and cultural performances on a variety of themes including brotherhood, drug abuse, sanitation, water conservation and other themes. Multiple cultural performances, including local tribal items were also presented.
Addressing the gathering, DC expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the novel fest and said he is impressed seeing the talent of the youth which they showed in drama, skits, painting and essay competition.
He said, district administration is committed towards the development of serene tourist spots including harnessing the scenic, religious tourist potential of the area.
He added that war against drugs will continue to take this mission to the logical end and strict action is being taken to tackle drug traffickers.
While speaking about the ongoing enrollment drives, DC sought cooperation for making 100 percent enrollment so that no one should be out of school.
Plantation drives are going on in the area, he said, while participating in one such plantation drive cum distribution function.
He also said that a community hall has been constructed in the block which was a demand of people.
He stated that tourist infrastructure shall be put in place at Vasaknag to develop the area as a tourist hotspot.DDC Chairperson while speaking on the occasion said, he will be duty bound to lend any sort of support to district administration in developing the far off Kund block.