The Hindu : Punjab to host heritage festivals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 09, 2003

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Punjab to host heritage festivals

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI OCT. 8. To give tourism a boost in Punjab, the State Government will be organising heritage festivals in Kapurthala, Amritsar and Patiala showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the State. This is expected to attract both domestic and international tourists.

"The first in the series will be a three day `Sharad Utsav' -- a winter festival of traditional music -- to be held at Kapurthala from October 17. The festival will also commemorate the anniversary of Baba Jassa Singh, the founder of erstwhile royal state of Kapurthala," said the Punjab Chief Minister, Amrinder Singh, in the Capital today.

Stating that the State Governor, O.P. Verma, would inaugurate the festival at Kapurthala, Mr. Singh said these festivals were part of the State Government's plans to organise a series of cultural celebrations this year with an objective to bring alive its "cultural vivacity" and place it on the international map.

Leading artistes scheduled to perform in the festival include Nazeer Ahmed Khan Warsi (qawwal), Wadali Brothers, Rajan-Sajan Mishra, Wichhre Paani (Punjabi opera), Begum Parveen Sultana, Pandit Debu Chaudhari and Prateek Chaudhari. "Kapurthala emerged as the first choice to kick off the festivals as it has a number of heritage sites to boast which includes the Royal Palace and the world-renowned Moorish Mosque," Mr. Singh added.

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