Bareilly,

13 Jan (HS): The rich folk culture of Uttarakhand took center stage as the 30th

Uttarayani fair opened on Tuesday at the Bareilly Club grounds, providing

visitors with a peek of the hill state's unique arts, cuisine, and traditions. The

Uttarayani Jan Kalyan Samiti is hosting the three-day cultural festival, which

will include Uttarakhand's ethnic dances, music, traditional costume, and local

cuisine. Six cultural troupes supported by the Uttarakhand government will give

performances throughout the festival, according to cultural organizer Pooran

Danu. The expected visit of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was

called off at the last minute; therefore the ceremonial inauguration could not

take place as planned. However, committee president Amit Pant stated that the

expo will go as planned from January 13 to 15.

Ahead

to the event, Bareilly Mayor Dr Umesh Gautam led a colorful parade from

Kotwali, which featured artists costumed in traditional Uttarakhand clothing. The

parade went past important crossroads in the city before arriving at the

fairgrounds, where traditional dances to the rhythms of 'dhol' and 'damau'

(percussion instruments) drew big audiences. Pant stated that the fair is free

to the general population. The fair will be open every day from 10 a.m. until 8

p.m.

Today,

with the Rang Yatra, the three-day 30th Uttarayan Fair has unofficially begun

at the Bareilly Club Ground. A colourful glimpse of Uttarakhand's rich folk

culture, traditions and folk arts will be seen in this fair which will continue

till January 13, 14 and 15. Organised by the Uttarayan Jankalyan Samiti, this

fair has active participation of Uttarakhand society as well as various

sections and communities of the city. Fair Committee President Amit Pant,

General Secretary Manoj Pandey and Treasurer Kamlesh Bisht informed that entry

to the fair will be free from 10 am to 8 pm.

Before

the inauguration, Mayor Umesh Gautam flagged off the Rang Yatra from the

Kotwali police station. The Rang Yatra passed through the city's main streets

and reached the fair site, where artists dressed in traditional costumes were

the center of attraction.

According

to the organizers, on the second day of the fair, Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak will participate in the program, while in

the evening; Didihat (Pithoragarh) MLA Vishan Singh Chuphal will light the

lamp. On the third day, former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and

Nainital MP Ajay Bhatt are scheduled to participate. Cultural in-charge Puran

Danu said that this time six cultural teams from the Uttarakhand government are

presenting in the fair. Fair in-charge Chandan Negi, Prakash Pathak and Captain

Sher Singh along with their team are busy in making the fair grand and

memorable.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi