SHIMLA 27 February 2018:

The National level Sujanpur Holi festival was marked by a colorful beginning after Chief Minister Shri Jai Ram Thakur performed the age-old rituals and paid obeisance in the famous Murli Manohar temple and led the ‘Shobha Yatra’ today.

Chief Minister said that the historical Sujanpur Holi festival was the initiative of the erstwhile king of Sujanpur, Raja Sansar Chand, who had set the tradition of celebrating the festival of colours with the public. He said fairs and festivals reflected our rich cultural heritage for which the state was known internationally.

He also launched a website www.hamirpurpride.com for popularizing and projecting the culture and customs of the district besides highlighting the importance of various fairs and festivals with a detailed reference of the historical places including forts and palaces of Hamirpur district.

The website will also help in the promotion of tourism, said Deputy Commissioner Hamirpur Shri Rakesh Prajapati. He also honoured the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion.

Shri Jai Ram Thakur released a souvenir of Sujanpur Holi festival.

He also inquired about the present status of the fair as earlier there was a demand of granting it the status of an International level fair.

The Chief Minister also danced to the tune of traditional folk music on the occasion and applied ‘Gulaal’ (the red Holi colour) to former Chief Minister Shri Prem Kumar Dhumal and others present.

Shri Jai Ram Thakur was accompanied by the former Chief Minister Shri Prem Kumar Dhumal, Member of Parliament Shri Anurag Thakur, MLAs Shri Narendar Thakur and Shri Ravi Dhiman, former MLAs Baldev Sharma and Shri Vijay Agnihotri, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Smt. Urmil Thakur, District BJP President Shri Anil Thakur amongst others.

Earlier, MLA Shri Rajinder Rana received the Chief Minister at PWD rest house, Sujanpur.