Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Kashmir Festival in June: 7-Days Tulip festival concludes

The 7-Days Tulip Festival concluded here today amid great fan fare with beating of drums and display of music by JK Armed Police Pipe Band at the foot hills of Zabarwan, 7 kms away from the summer capital. The festival was organized by the Tourism and Floriculture Departments.

  Director Floriculture, Dr. Ghulam Sarwar Naqash, Director Tourism Mr. Farooq Ahmad Shah, senior officers of Information, JKTDC and other department besides media persons and tourists from country and abroad were present on the occasion. Representatives of Tour and Travel agencies, House Boat Owners and Hotel and Restaurant Associations were also present. 

  The Director Floriculture while welcoming the guests said that 80,000 tourists visited the garden last year and about 15000 tourists visited the garden during the seven day festival. Of these, about 95 per cent were tourists from country and abroad.

  Director Tourism in his speech said that the department has taken host of measures to promote tourism in the valley which is the mainstay of our economy. He said the infrastructure is being developed at the Tourist destinations to attract more and more tourists adding that this would help boost the economy of the people associated directly or indirectly with this industry. He announced that Kashmir festival will be celebrated in June this year.

  On the occasion, the Information department presented a variety cultural programme which enthralled the audience. The J&K Cultural Academy had also arranged cultural programmes during the festival week.

  Other features of the festival were special local folk and other cultural programmes and installation of stalls by the Kashmir Government Arts Emporium, Handicrafts department and Agro Industries Development Corporation Kashmir cuisine were also kept at the JKTDC stall which was liked by the tourists.

  Mr. Hilal Ahmad Mattoo, Cultural Artist of Information department presented a skit which was applauded by the audience.

  Later, the Director Tourism gave away prizes among the departments who had installed stalls during the festival.