IN QUEUE:

More festivals like Saras Mela on anvil

Chandigarh, October 23, 2012:           The Punjab government has decided to folk festivals in line with SARAS Mela to promote Punjabi culture and tradition besides uplifting the economic standards of handicraft artisans and folk artists. Disclosing this here today Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra said that the success of SARAS mela implied that these festivals stile have relevance in the modern society.

Rakhra said that this is first time in the history that More than 1.75 lakh people participated in the SARAS mela besides financial transaction of Rs. 1.75 core in the field of trade. He said that the Punjab Government has generated all its resources to make this tradition a success. He said that this fair would go a long way to promote tourism in the state. Minister said that 250 stalls were installed in the fair and 400 artists from 20 states participated and enthralled the audience. He said that Rs.70 lakh were incurred to conduct the fair, out of which Rs.20 lakh has been given by Union Rural Development and Panchayat Ministry. He said that Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Department generated Rs.50 lakh from its own resources for the fair.