HERITAGE FESTIVAL FROM FEB 14
Heritage Festival to put Patiala on tourist map
Patiala set to become major tourist attraction
Patiala

Six years earlier, Patiala just about missed the bus to fame. The formation of an Akali government put paid to the plans of then Patiala Commissioner S K Sinha to have a heritage festival in the city in which the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was to be the star attraction. The festival then was focussed on the limited objective of highlighting the deplorable condition of Quila Mubarak, the fort of the Phulkian dynasty of Patiala, as well as creating funds for its restoration.

The Sheesh Mahal at night.

February 13, 2003

Maharaja’s dream forgotten
Patiala, February 12
Once projected to rival the boulevards of New Delhi, the Bhupindra Nagar in city may be a shadow of its former self, but appears to be galling is that the creator of the “Nagar” as well as that of modern Patiala - Maharaja Bhupinder Singh - does not seem to be getting his due during a time when the city is getting ready to showcase itself at a Heritage Festival scheduled to start from February 14.

February 14, 2003

Tent city coming up
Patiala, February 13
Rajasthani men saying "hukum" at every wish and command of a guest is likely to become a reality with the setting up of Swiss Cottage tents of the Maharaja of Jodhpur on two islands of the dried-up lake at the back of the Old Moti Bagh Palace. However getting men to say “hukum’’ to you is going to be a costly affair with the rent of each tent pegged at Rs 8,500. The rent will, however, include all three meals for two persons.

Punjabi ambience for Crafts Mela
Patiala, February13 With preparations in full swing for the Patiala Heritage Festival, the district administration is leaving no stone unturned to ascertain that the venues where different items of the festival are scheduled to be held, also contribute to the aesthetic whole of the festival. Preparations in full swing for the Crafts Mela in Patiala. — Photo by Subhash Patialavi.

Patiala heritage fest opens
Patiala, February 14
Inaugurating the Patiala heritage festival, Punjab Governor J.F.R. Jacob today said owning to its dynastic history, Patiala had the potential to emerge on the international tourist map. He further said that the city’s unforgettable history and rich culture would definitely attract much tourist traffic.

February 16, 2003

CM for Taj Hotel in Patiala
Patiala, February 15
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, said today he would request the Taj Hotel group to set up a hotel here to give a fillip to tourism and complement the efforts of the government to bring the city on the national tourist map. Talking to TNS before inaugurating the Crafts Mela here, the Chief Minister said the Taj group planned to open a few hotels in Punjab and he would ask it to set up its first hotel in Patiala.

Dying art forms liven up fest Patiala, February 15 From works of art in “parewa” stone, images made of iron in the “karigeer” technique, etchings on palm leaves in “taal patra khodoye” style, statues in “dhokra” technique, paintings in “tasser” and “tanjore” styles to the “desi phulkari”, the craft mela, which opened here under the Patiala Heritage Festival, has it all.
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, releases a souvenir of the Patiala Heritage Festival on Saturday.

February 17, 2003

Sonal Mansingh casts a spell
Patiala, February 16
The old courtyard of the Quila Mubarak came alive with ‘Vasant-Vijay’, an improvised dance-drama depicting the Shiva-Parvati tale by the youngest recipient of ‘Padma Bhushan’, Sonal Mansingh and her 17-member dance troupe here late last evening. It portrayed a narrative embodying mythical events and contemporary reactions to another age, so remote yet tangibly present.

Ustad Vilayat Khan weaves magic
Patiala, February 18
Classical music emerged at its very zenith when sitar maestro, Ustad Vilayat Khan, who has been instrumental in bringing about a revolution in the music scenario through his introduction of “gayaki ang” in sitar, performed on the fourth evening of the Patiala Heritage Festival yesterday.

UT golfers shine in Patiala heritage golf
Chandigarh, February 18
As part of the ongoing Cultural Patiala Heritage Week, a Heritage Golf Tournament was held at the Black Elephant Golf Course, Patiala, yesterday. One hundred and twelve golfers from Patiala, Chandigarh, Delhi and Ambala took part in the tournament which was sponsored by Seagrams and Chivas Regal.

• Rural sports

Jagjit, Hans enthral audience
Patiala, February 19
Calling the king of modern ghazal singing, Jagjit Singh, who was here last evening to perform at the Patiala Heritage festival, preferred to sing only light songs. Singing Punjabi songs like “Son da Mahina” and several songs from different films like Sarfrosh, Jagjit Singh interacted a lot with the audience and gave a vibrant performance.

Works of contemporary artists on display
Patiala, February 19
Paintings of nearly all important artists of the region were displayed at the Rajindra Kothi here Monday. The paintings have been specially brought to the city for the Patiala Heritage Festival, from the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi. The display of paintings at the gallery specially created in the majestic building which also houses the State’s Department of Archives is breathtaking.

Wichhre Pani — music, songs score over portrayal
Patiala, February 19
‘Wichhre Pani’, an opera presented at the Quila Mubarak on Monday as part of the ongoing Patiala Heritage Festival, comprehensively tried to recreate various inherent elements of Punjabi psyche and how the five rivers of undivided Punjab influenced the emotional and intellectual make-up of the people of the state.

Patiala to have Urdu academy

Patiala, February 19 In an effort to promote Urdu in the state, the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today announced that an Urdu academy would be set up in Patiala soon. Addressing a two-day national Urdu seminar on “Contribution of Punjab for Urdu language and literature”, organised by the Department of Persian, Urdu and Arabic of Punjabi University, the Chief Minister urged the people to shed the “sectarian and narrow outlook” towards languages and added that the English language was indispensable to keep pace with the changing global scenario.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh addresses a national seminar on Urdu at Punjabi University, Patiala, on Wednesday. — Photo Subhash Patialavi

• A tribute to Polo Tigers

February 25, 2003

Patiala fest ends at Dil Se number Patiala, February 24
The Patiala Heritage Festival concluded with Sukhwinder singing the “Dil Se” number “Chaiya Chaiya”. Patialvis danced along with their favourite Punjabi pop stars despite a brief spell of drizzle. If Sukhwinder’s “Chaiya Chaiya” brought people on their toes, Jasbir Jassi’s “Kudi Gujarat di” made them sway with the number. Satinder Satti and Mink Singh hum with Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi

Amritsar festival next Patiala, February 24 After highlighting the heritage of Patiala at the Heritage Festival, which concluded yesterday night, the Punjab Government has now decided to focus on the Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar. Announcing this at the concluding function of the Patiala Heritage Festival at the Quila Mubarak yesterday evening, the Cultural Affairs Minister, Mr Ashwani Sekhri, said steps to get the Harmandar Sahib declared a World Heritage site had already been taken.

February 27, 2003

Craft fair to go on till March 2
Patiala, February 26
Heritage festival ended three days ago, but the craft fair will continue till March 2. As many as 150 craftsmen are participating in the fair. Local citizens seem to have risen to the occasion by attending and buying goods to ensure that the fair turns out to be a success and artisans who have travelled from all over the country do not return home disappointed.

Mrs Preneet Kaur, Patiala MP, honours Sunita Rani on Sunday

 

March 5, 2003

Patiala, famous for its royal wonders of architecture and a rich blend of handicraft, has stood out a symbol of Punjab's rich cultural wealth for centuries. In video (28k, 56k)