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Patiala Heritage festival begins

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, FEB. 13. Organised jointly by the Patiala Heritage Society and the Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (INTACH), the third edition of the Patiala Heritage festival began last evening. This annual event seeks to emphasise the need to preserve the culture and promote the tourist potential of this erstwhile princely city.

According to an official release Punjab Governor and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, the event began amid gaiety and enthusiasm at the aesthetically decorated historic fort Qila Mubarak in the heart of city.

Speaking on the occasion, Gen. Rodrigues said Punjab inherited a glorious heritage wedded to artistic and cultural values. He lauded the efforts of Patiala Heritage Society and INTACH for reviving the memories of the bygone era by displaying the evolution of culture in a befitting way during this weeklong event.

Highly impressed with the quality of presentation of traditional folk art form `Jago' by the girls, the Governor emphasised the need for nurturing talent of youth and children, besides imparting quality academic education. He said that the art forms like music, dance and drama unite people and contribute in promoting national cohesion and solidarity.

Chairperson of Patiala Heritage Society, Praneet Kaur, who is also the local MP and wife of the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, in her welcome address exhorted the youth to understand the history of Punjab and culture of the region and that this festival will provide an appropriate forum to familiarize the youth with our glorious traditions.

She said that Qila Mubarak, which had been constructed by the forefather of her husband, has been declared as world monument heritage site and all out efforts are being made to restore its glory. She said Rs. 2 crore have been given by the Punjab Government and Rs. 1 crore by the World Monument Heritage Society, to restore the fort's glory.

The State's Minister of Culture Affairs, Partap Singh Bajwa, in his brief address said that similar festival to promote Punjab's heritage were being organized in Patiala, Kapurthala and Amritsar.

While assuring that remaining places of historical importance will be covered in near future, he lauded the efforts of the Chief Minister for his initiatives to build ties of friendship with the Pakistani province of Punjab through exchange of cultural and sports events.

Chairman of INTACH, S.K. Mishra, said that during this seven day festival various events including musical evenings, craft mela, seminars, fashion, exhibitions of paintings and pop music concerts would be organised.# Wife of Punjab Governor, Jean Rodrigues, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Suresh Kumar and other senior and police officers were present on the occasion.

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