Month: May 2022

First tribal festival “Margul Utsav” concludes in Lahaul Updated on May 20, 2022 A first-ever colourful tribal festival “Margul Utsav” was held at Udaipur in Himachal’s Lahaul-Spiti district with participation of cultural troops and other artists from across the state. Margul Utsav was organised by the Lahaul-Spiti administration in association with the department of tourism with the aim to promote cultural tourism in the valley. The festival, with participation from all the tribal regions of the state including Lahaul, Spiti, Pangi, Bharmaur and Kinnaur, was organised from May 18 to 20. The cultural troops presented folk dances, folk music, dresses, ornaments and other folk arts. Local cuisines were served while competitions of traditional games like chooh gumza, thippu, chholo, bangtahar and langten were also held. Participation of both men and women was ensured. A large number of tourists visited Udaipur to witness the unique culture of Himachal. The festival was inaugurated and concluded by tribal development minister Ram Lal Markanda. Lahaul-Spiti deputy commissioner Neeraj Kumar said Margul festival will now be made an annual state-level event in Lahaul valley to promote tribal culture, arts, games, local products, dresses, cuisines and fairs. "A large number of tourists are visiting Lahaul but they mostly visit the areas close to Atal tunnel or along Manali-Leh highway. Very few tourists visit Udaipur, Pattan and Miyar valley which are extremely beautiful and full of rich culture. Margul festival is expected to promote this part of the state also," he said. Tug-of-war, knitting competition,s and many such unique events for women were centre of attraction besides cultural tableaus, craft exhibitions, and traditional dress competitions. Lajawab Lahaul, a media campaign to promote tourism in the valley was also launched. In an effort to woo the tourists to visit Lahaul in all seasons, short movies filmed in Lahaul in