Minjar fair symbol of Chamba’s cultural identity, pride: Speaker

Chamba, July 20

Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, chaired a meeting at the district headquarters of Chamba to assess the preparations for the International Minjar Fair-2024, to be held from July 28 to August 4.

The fair is celebrated to commemorate the victory of the King of Chamba over the ruler of Trigarta, which is now known as Kangra, in 935 AD. After returning from the battle, people of the Chamba valley greeted the king with bunches of paddy and maize — a symbol of prosperity and happiness. The fair is marked by colourful cultural programmes, which include singing traditional Kunjri-Malhar.

During the meeting, the Speaker said the Minjar Fair was a symbol of Chamba’s identity and pride. He said the fair represented the local religious culture and fostered a sense of unity and brotherhood among different sections of society. He stressed the importance of preserving the fair’s cultural essence and hoped that this year’s fair would be successfully organised with the cooperation of the administration and public.

Additional District Magistrate Amit Mehra provided a detailed account of the preparations made by various sub-committees for the fair. He said the auction process for the venue had been completed and that a total revenue of Rs 3,08,12,650 had been generated for it.