Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, June 29: Former MLA of Ramnagar and BJP spokesperson Ranbir Singh Pathania, today threw open traditional “Annual-Mela” at Toph (Shiv Gali) in Dudu.
The three-day Mela is being organised by the Mela Committee with the active support of district administration as well as J&K Academy for Art, Culture and Languages. It was inaugurated by the former MLA in the presence of officers of civil and police administration, besides prominent people and general public.
It is pertinent to mention here that every year people from different parts of Bhaderwah, Doda and adjoining areas including that of Dudu-Basantgarh area attend this historic Toph Mela with ‘Charri Yatras’ from their respective areas reaching there with chanting of hymns, jaikaras and devotion, full spiritedness and enthusiasm at its best.
The three-day Mela includes various cultural programmes, stalls installed by J&K Government and a dangal but the main attraction was the cultural items presented by various artists sponsored by J&K Academy for Art, Culture and Languages. Local artists invited specially for the Mela presented Dogri songs and dance which remained a special attraction and enthralled the audience.
While speaking on the occasion, Pathania stressed on the importance of these traditional festivals and melas to maintain the harmony amongst all the sections of the society as such events bring people closer. He said that this area has been bestowed with scenic beauty and has vast potential to be developed as a good hill station with large potential of adventure tourism.
Prominent persons who were present on the occasion were the local Mela Committee president Krishan Singh, chairman Hans Raj, vice-president Darshana Devi, general secretary Kewal Parihar, Hans Raj (Sarpanch), Kanta Devi (Sarpanch) and Madan Lal (Sarpanch).
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