UNI - February 4, 1999

MUSSOORIE: In the midst of a quiet and severe winter season here, ``Sharadotsav '99'' came as a welcome burst of colour and entertainment for the citizens of this hill resort in the Garhwal Himalayas.

Organised by the Uttar Pradesh (Hill) Tourism Department, the winter festival as well as the ``summer festival'' are annual features and provide an opportunity for local artistes to perform at an impressive platform.

Many theatre groups from various parts of Garhwal and Kumaon participated in the winter festival which concluded over the weekend. Inaugurating the three day event, Mr Kalyan Singh Rawat of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) said that cultural festivals like this winter festival should be held more often in tourist towns as they are a source of entertainment and provide knowledge about local customs to visitors from various parts of the country.

Mr Jot Singh, chairman of the Mussoorie Municipal Corporation, said that such efforts had been made in Mussoorie for the past several years and it was hoped that more such programmes would be held in the future.

Despite the severe cold conditions following the second spell of snowfall this winter, people attended the gala function in large numbers. Mussoorie's ``Akashwani Club'' and Srinagar's artistes presented a variety of entertainment programme on the inaugural day of the festival.

Himvani cultural organisation also presented one-act plays and folk songs of Garhwal and Kumaon artistes from the IPTA and ``Navjyoti club'' also participated in the fest. The IPTA presented a play titled ``Roti Ki Keemat'' which was highly appreciated by the audience. Jaunsari, Haryanavi, Garhwali and Nepali folk songs were sung by singers of the ``Navjyoti club.''

Very few tourists could be seen at the festival as tourism is at an all time low in ``The Queen of hills'' these days due to lack of proper supply of water and electricity. Schools and colleges have not yet reopened and the town appears almost deserted. The few tourists who came to see the snowfall did not choose to stay for long after having enjoyed the beautiful sight.

Next month will see Mussoorie coming back to life with the arrival of the spring warmth and the town will begin preparing for the peak summer tourist season of May and June.