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 different seasons were also released.
Udaipur SDM Nishant Tomar said tourism infrastructure of the area has developed over the years and a large number of homestays and camping sites have come up at different beautiful locations. “We are trying our best to provide all basic facilities to the tourists who will love to immerse in the unique tribal culture here. Margul festival was our endeavour to showcase the hidden cultural treasures to promote tourism,” he said.
Margul festival at Lahaul’s Udaipur from May 18
A three-day-long festival “Margul Utsav” will be celebrated at Udaipur in Lahaul-Spiti district from May 18 to 20 to promote and showcase the rich tribal heritage of Himachal, an official said.
Artists from all the tribal areas of Himachal including Lahaul, Spiti, Pangi, Bharmaur and Kinnaur will present their folk dances, music, folk dress, ornaments, cuisines and many more. The purpose is to attract a large number of tourists and promote cultural tourism besides preserving it.
Traditional games like chooh gumza, thippu, chholo, bangtahar and langten will be played as competition. Local cuisines and traditional dances, which are close to extinction, will entertain the tourists.
Some short movies filmed in Lahaul valley in different seasons will also be released during the Margul utsav festival under Lajawab Lahaul campaign. The short films will encourage tourists to visit the valley in different seasons.
“This is our effort to promote the tribal culture and folk art which will also help in tourism promotion in Udaipur and Miyar valley which is visited by very few tourists. Traditional dress competitions, cultural processions, craft exhibitions, folk dance competitions and presentation by the Himachal police musical band “Harmony of the Pines” will be the main attractions. Tourists will get to see what they had never seen before,” Udaipur sub-divisional magistrate Nishant Tomar said.
Generally, a huge tourist crowd is thronging Sissu and areas near the Atal tunnel. A good number of tourists visit Keylong, Jispa and Spiti. But Udaipur, Pattan and Miyar valley, which are extremely beautiful, are visited by very few tourists. The efforts through Margul festival will be to encourage tourists to visit this part of Himachal as well, especially Pattan and Miyar valley.
Special electric buses will be run to Udaipur during Margul festival so that tourists and local residents do not face problem in ensuring participation. The hotels, homestays and campsites are preparing to host the tourists.
“We, with support from locals, are trying to improve our tourism infrastructure. Roads in valley are being improved. We are paying special attention to cleanliness. We shall now start giving jute bags to tourists to keep their trashes and the bags will be collected from them at exit point of Atal tunnel. A garbage treatment facility will come up soon. IIT is also giving us technical support in infra development,” he added.
Lahaul-Spiti deputy commissioner Neeraj Kumar said, “The Margul festival will start with ten beautifully decorated tableaus purely themed on tribal culture. Cultural troops from other districts have also been invited. This colourful festival will now be a yearly event. A large number of homestays have been registered in recent times while more are coming up.”
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