Five-day Shimla summer festival commences, Governor Kavinder Gupta urges tourists to follow rules

The fivedaylong Shimla Summer Festival commenced on Monday with great enthusiasm at the historic Ridge Ground drawing large crowds of tourists and local residentsHimachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta formally inaugurated the festival and called upon visitors to follow administrative guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience in the hill stationAddressing the gathering during the first cultural evening Governor Kavinder Gupta described the Summer Festival as an important platform for showcasing Himachal Pradeshs rich culture traditions and heritage He congratulated the elected representatives Shimla Municipal Corporation and the district administration for successfully organizing the eventThe Governor saidShimla remains one of Indias most prominent tourist destinations and that the festival provides visitors from across the country with an opportunity to experience the states cultural richness He stressed the need to preserve and promote folk traditions and ensure that younger generations remain connected to their cultural rootsWelcoming artists from different parts of the country Gupta said such events encourage cultural exchange and strengthen social harmony by allowing people to understand and appreciate diverse traditionsShimlas pleasant weather and natural beauty continue to attract visitors its geographical limitations and finite resources require responsible tourism I urge the tourists to adhere to rules and guidelines laid down by the administration and wish them a safe and memorable stay in the state capital he saidThe inaugural cultural evening witnessed vibrant performances by artists from various regions who showcased Himachal Pradeshs rich folk heritage through music and dance leaving the audience enthralledThe district administration has made extensive arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival which will continue till June 12Speaking to ANI Pankaj Sharma Additional District Magistrate Shimla said Cultural performances by Himachali Punjabi and artists from other states will continue throughout the festival He said special efforts have been made to promote Himachal Pradeshs folk traditions through cultural presentations and folk dance performancesApart from cultural events a food festival volleyball competition Zumba sessions Mallakhamb demonstrations and several other activities have been organized to attract tourists Sharma said the festival also contributes significantly to the local economy by boosting tourism and generating employment opportunitiesHe added that the city has been divided into sectors and executive magistrates and police personnel have been deployed in coordination to ensure the smooth conduct of the fiveday event He appealed to visitors to enjoy Shimlas natural beauty responsibly and cooperate with authoritiesTo maintain law and order the police department has deployed around 300 personnel across key locations including the Ridge and Mall RoadSpeaking to ANI Abhishek Additional Superintendent of Police Shimla said Summer Festival management has been divided into three sectors each under the supervision of senior officers He said the primary focus is on ensuring the safety and convenience of tourists while preventing any lawandorder issuesThe officer said police personnel have also been deployed to guide visitors and manage traffic effectively Additional traffic arrangements route diversions and sectorwise monitoring have been implemented to ensure smooth movement during the festivalAbhishek appealed to young visitors to celebrate responsibly avoid unruly behaviour or alcoholrelated disturbances and cooperate with police personnel He also urged local residents to warmly welcome tourists visiting the cityTourists attending the festival expressed excitement over the lively atmosphere pleasant weather and cultural attractionsAlok Gupta a tourist from Uttar Pradesh said I am delighted to witness the Summer Festival during his visit to Shimla He described the experience as memorable praising the vibrant crowd festive spirit and cool weather which offered relief from the intense heat in the plainsGupta said the atmosphere was so enjoyable that it would encourage him to visit Shimla again and participate in future editions of the festivalSimilarly Himanshi a tourist from Delhi said The pleasant weather festive celebrations and enthusiastic crowds had made her visit particularly enjoyable She encouraged more people to visit Shimla during the festival period noting that tourists could experience local cuisine culture and entertainment all at one placeThe Shimla Summer Festival one of the states most anticipated annual events will continue over the next several days with a series of cultural programmes folk performances sporting activities food exhibitions and entertainment events aimed at celebrating Himachal Pradeshs rich cultural heritage while enhancing the tourist experienceThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed 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