Gulmarg, 10 JAN 2019: With an aim to attract tourists to visit the picturesque hill station of Gulmarg, Army in collaboration with JK Tourism organized a Winter Youth Festival 2019 under the aegis of Dagger Division of Srinagar based Chinar Corps.
An official spokesperson said the heavy snowfall this season gave a much-needed boost to tourism in J&K much to the delight of locals who are dependent on it for their living.
He said the main attractions of the event were winter sports such as Snow Scooter and all Terrain Vehicle Races, Skiing, and Snowman Making Competition, which garnered maximum participation. “It showcased the enormous potential that Gulmarg has for winter sports and adventure activities”.
Apart from these, other attractions included live performance by local bands, Photography exhibition cum Competition, stalls by J&K Tourists Department, High Altitude Warfare School and Indian Institute of skiing and Mountaineering.
The festival was inaugurated with flagging off of ATV Race by the Chief Guest, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command.
He also adjudged the winner of photography competition and visited various stalls to encourage the participants.
The other eminent dignitaries who attended the function included Lieutenant General A K Bhatt, GOC Chinar Corps, Major General G S Rawat, GOC Dagger Division, Maj Gen Atul Koushik, Comdt HAWS and senior Army, Police and Civil Administration officials. Besides, a huge crowd of local and domestic tourists flocked the venue in addition to the school children from various local as well as Army Goodwill Schools from all the region who added color to the fest.
A sizeable number of tourists also participated in the competition during the festival and enjoyed the event. Special games and food stalls added to the fun and frolic. “The wholehearted participation of the locals as well as the tourists in all the competition was a testimony to the improving peace and harmony in the area and is reflective of the constructive role that the Army is playing in spreading goodwill in the pristine valley”.
