Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma and others to perform at Jammu festival from December 25

Jammu: The World famous Santoor player, Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pakistani singer Abida Parveen, Watali Brother and Sabri Brothers will be performing during the `Jammu festival`, which will begun from December 25 in winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu festival will be commencing from December 25 to 30 in winter capital to promote tourism, culture and heritage of Jammu region in the state, director Tourism Soujanya Sharma said today. The different cultural events will take place at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu. Besides this other musical events would be presented by famous Punjabi singer Gurdass Mann, Mater Anmol, Pyush Bhagat, Tania Gupta and Dr Radhika Chopra besides other performers at Dushera Ground Gandhi Nagar on December 29 and 30th respectively. Sufiana programme by Watali Brother and Sabri Brothers, Duggar Folk and dance besides Maha Raaslila depicting life of Lord Krishna, cultural procession illustrating rich Dogra Heritage and Culture, InterCollege level declamation, heritage Walk, ethnic food stalls, nukad shows would be other major attractions of the festival. "Such events would be organized to showcase the unique cultural ethos of Jammu besides promoting tourism in the state", Sharma said. This year events of including famous singers, Santoor Players and Sufi music was initiated by the Minister of Tourism G A Mir to attract more tourists and to publicise the Jammu region as tourist destination. He said that different stall holders would display their commodities to showcase indigenous culture and art of J&K having worldwide reorganization and stressed for massive involvement of public especially eminent personalities. Jammu`s religious, Social and Trade organisations will also be taking part in the one of the mega festival of Jammu region apart from all the government agencies. In this direction, Divisional Commissioner Shant Manu reviewed the arrangements for ensuing Jammu festival commencing at the meeting of senior officers and members of Jammu Festival Celebration Committee and representatives of religious and social organizations, he said. The festival is being organized by the Tourism Department who would provide all the logistic arrangements and is making special arrangements for the upcoming Jammu festival to attract the tourists within and outside the state. In order to give festive look to the city of temples, all the bazaars, important government buildings and rotaries would be illuminated by different bazaar and business associations, Municipality etc, Divisional Commissioner maintained.