The Newz Radar
MANDI: With less than a month left for the International Shivaratri Fair, preparations are in full swing in Chhoti Kashi for the mega event.
Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan chaired a meeting of officials on Wednesday to assess preparations for the event. He stressed the importance of everyone’s cooperation to ensure a magnificent and emotionally resonant occasion.
Devgan announced that the first procession of the International Shivaratri Fair will commence on March 9, followed by subsequent processions on March 12 and March 15. These processions will feature captivating tableaus showcasing the rich art and culture of the state. Additionally, cultural evenings are scheduled from March 9-14.
The DC emphasised that the fair aims to promote traditional art and culture while also raising awareness about public issues. He urged all departments to utilise this opportunity to advocate for important matters affecting public life. The fair will also highlight various welfare initiatives, including cleanliness, child and women’s welfare, drug prevention, voter awareness and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign.
Devgan, who is chairman of the mela committee, instructed all sub-committees responsible for organising the fair to promptly finalise the event’s details. He assured that the administration would make optimal arrangements for the stay of all deities during the fair, ensuring their proper reverence and accommodation. He also stressed the necessity of adequate arrangements, including electricity and water, at their accommodation sites. Notably, for the International Shivaratri Fair, 216 registered deities receive ‘Nundhra’ from the administration following all legal procedures.
Devgan highlighted the special decoration of Mandi city and temples for the fair, with office buildings and temples adorned in the festival’s colours. Special lighting and decorations will embellish the city’s main gates, bridges, buildings, and temples.
The fair will also focus on promoting products from self-help groups in the district, with guests receiving these products in specially packaged form. Additionally, a Saras Mela will be organized in the city during the Shivaratri fair, offering traditional products from various states.
Devgan stressed the importance of cleanliness arrangements at the fair and throughout the city, ensuring the avoidance of single-use plastics and encouraging shopkeepers to segregate wet and dry waste. Adequate dustbins will be strategically placed and marked throughout the city. The meeting also addressed field competitions in the sports segment.
The meeting extensively discussed all aspects related to the organization of the fair, including processions, city and temple decorations, financial resource management, stall allocation, proper management of deities’ reverence and accommodation, cultural events, sports competitions, souvenir publication, departmental developmental exhibitions, guest reception, cleanliness and sanitation, traffic arrangements, electricity and water management, safe food item sales, health management, fire safety arrangements, road maintenance, and promotion of self-help group products.
