Uttarkashi Magh Mela from January 14

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 4

The week-long historic Bada Haat Ka Thaulu (festival), also popular as Magh Mela, will begin amid the beating of traditional drums at Uttarkashi, the town situated on the banks of the holy Bhagirathi river from January 14.

Uttarkashi DM Dr Ashish Kumar Shrivastava today visited various ghats in Uttarkashi to take stock of preparations. He directed the officials concerned to construct a levelled-road leading to Kedar Ghat for the convenience of devotees coming for the holy dip during the Magh Mela. He also gave instructions for the repair of the steps leading to the ghats and removal of encroachments from the ghat areas. He directed officials of the the Tourism Department to erect makeshift changing rooms at the ghats.

The executive engineer (Irrigation) was asked to divert the flow of the river towards Jad Bharat Ghat so that devotees are able to bath easily in the river. Officials were asked to install safety chains to avoid any untoward incident and make adequate lighting arrangements.

Shrivastava said this year’s fair theme would be ‘Mera Vote Mera Adhikar’ through which people, especially the youth, would be motivated to turn out in large numbers to cast vote during the Assembly elections.

He said plans were afoot to organise a kite festival for which participants from around the country were being invited. Kites would carry the printed message of ‘Mera Vote Mera Adhikar’, added DM Uttarkashi. Uttrakhandi food festival, involving the local hotel association and self-help groups, is also being planned. The highlight of the festival would be Ganga Aarti that would be performed on the designated days during the festival, the DM said.

Besides, a Bollywood entertainment night is also being planned and a webpage on the official website of the state government under Uttarkashi district is also being created. Shrivastava appealed to tourists to visit Uttarkashi during the fair.

The Bada Haat Ka Thaulu festival dates back to 17th century when traders from Tibet, while crossing over to Garthang Valley, used to participate in the mela and exchange goods of their needs. Such festivals were no less than the mall culture of the present day wherein everything was available under one roof, said Ajay Puri, president of the Uttarkashi Hotel Association.