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| Jammu festival---how far successful? | | | | There may be some weight in the Minister for Higher Education, Gulchain Singh Charak criticizing the PDP ministers for remaining absent in the functions organized in connection with Jammu festival. With the exception of a junior minister from the PDP, Manjit Singh who flagged off a rally of senior citizens, held in connection with the fest, there was no participation of any PDP minister in any of the events held in connection with the festival. The most conspicuous was the total non involvement and disassociation of the Minister for Tourism from the celebrations, which were believed to be aimed at promoting tourism at projecting heritage of Jammu region. But what is more pertinent is whether the holding of fifteen days long festival, which was claimed to be an exercise to promote tourism, by highlighting the potential the region has for tourism and pilgrimage as well as various dimensions of multi heritage of the region as a whole, has really served the above purpose. Most of the events held during the festival were not even remotely connected either with tourism or heritage of Jammu. Even the local artists, having talent in projecting local culture and art had announced their boycott of the function as a protest against the organizers not involving them and not providing them any opportunity to display their talent. Even the Gujjars, whose distinct ethnic and cultural identity is very much part and parcel of Jammu region were sore over their non involvement and had announced keeping off the events as a mark of protest. Most of the events organized betrayed total lack of imagination and concept of the organizers in projecting and highlighting the local culture and heritage, least to say about promotion of tourism in this region. It was at best an exercise to provide some entertainment to a selected section of the people, mostly VIPs and bureaucrats. The common man was deprived of even this opportunity, in view of heavy ticket money fixed for witnessing some events by them, whereas the VIPs and bureaucrats had the feast of eyes and ears, free of any cost. There is dire need to take stock of the practical utility the festival has served, in either contributing to promotion of tourism and pilgrimage in this part of the state or in any way projecting the diverse cultural and historical heritage of the region. Whether the money spent on the celebrations was worth it or not? With basic infrastructure to most of the potential tourist and pilgrimage resorts in Jammu region lacking, it was better if the money spent in holding the festival, was rather utilized in upgrading the roads linking Bhirpur, Purmandal and Uttervani with the national highway as well as providing all weather road to the twin lakes of Mansar and Sruisar. These historical places, which if little care is taken and proper infrastructure developed, can be brought on the pilgrimage and tourism map of the country require due attention of the authorities. As a poor consolation to the people of Jammu in comparison with the recently developed tulip garden in the outskirts of Srinagar city, the flower garden at Bhour setup recently, has not even been publicized, for even the locals to visit for excursion. Similarly, the prestigious underground aquarium setup in a part of Bagh-e-Bahu, below the Bahu Fort has not been properly publicized to attract even the Vaishno Devi bound pilgrims. |
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