Kinnauri Culturel Mahotsav

Cultural Bonanza at Kinnaur Mahotsav

Mohinder Negi

Famous Kinnaur Mahotsav was organised in Reckonpeo with great enthusiasm. The State Level Kinnaur Festival attracted local artists and also from other states of the country to participate in different cultural events. Apart from the Himachali artists, artists from Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Punjab and Haryana also presented their culture through various performances. Artists from nine districts of Himachal participated in the festival. This was for the the first time that festival organising committee had ensured to give much space to the state artists in the festival. The festival included different cultural events like classical instrument competition, rangoli competition, singing and dancing competitions and fancy dress competition. Apart from these different exhibition stalls of local handmade products were organised at the festival place. Different sports competitions were also organised during the festival. Notably, Kinnaur Festival also known as Tribal Festival is being celebrated since 1994 from October 30 to November 2 every year at district headquarters in Reckong Peo. This festival not only depicts the panorama of rich cultural heritage of the district but also provides an opportunity to the local people to sell and exhibit their horticulture and agriculture produce, handicraft and artifacts. Besides Kinnauri culture groups, participants from other districts and states performed cultural programmes symbolising national integration and brotherhood.