NATURAL BEAUTY: Kashmiri women performing traditional dance during Kashmir Food and Cultural Festival at Necklace Road in Hyderabad on Tueasday. - PHOTO: SATISH. H.

HYDERABAD: The third in the series of road shows by the Jammu Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) after New Delhi and Bangalore, was kick-started here on Tuesday evening in the presence of J. Raymond Peter, Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC).

The five-day road show titled `Kashmir Food and Cultural Festival' located opposite People's Plaza on Necklace Road will be on everyday from 12 noon till February 25.

The evenings will be marked by colourful cultural presentations.

Safe destination

While showcasing the evergreen culture and tradition of the `Paradise on Earth', the message sought to be driven home will be that locations in Jammu & Kashmir are as safe as other tourism destinations across the vast canvas of India, said Fayaz Ahmed Bala, General Manager, JKTDC.

He made a plaintive appeal to people, telling them that violence and disturbances were almost a thing of the past and had receded to the back, in people's memory. "Of course, there are still refrains from consulates of foreign countries telling their nationals to stay away from this part of India, but we have been seeing encouraging response from foreigners we have met in other cities," he said.

Mr. Raymond Peter said the message that the Leh and Ladakh festivals had again become very popular had to be driven home in the minds of both the domestic and foreign tourist.

The festival started with `Isabandh', the traditional lamp lighting ritual and was followed by cultural presentations including the `Roupf' dance that young women perform in the `gallies' in `mohullahs' of Jammu & Kashmir during the Holy Ramzan months.

A mouth-watering array of Kashmiri cuisine -- both vegetarian and non-vegetarian -- awaits the visitor all through the five days.

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