Students carve sculptures at Keylong snow festival

Our Correspondent

Kullu, February 2

A snow craft competition was organised at the snow festival at Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district today. Students of Government Senior Secondary School, Keylong, carved beautiful sculptures from snow, as they got a chance to showcase their skills after the school reopened after about 11 months.

Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Rai said that community participation had been remarkable during the snow festival being organised for the first time. He added that excellent programmes were being organised with the cooperation of people. Lahaul and Spiti’s tribal arts, culture, festivals, costumes, cuisines etc. were being showcased at the festival.

Rai said that various events were held at different places in Lahaul and Spiti. The idea of the snow festival was conceived to provide a platform for these activities to promote winter tourism. He added that traditional sports were being promoted during the festival. Archery, ‘chholo’, tug-of-war on snow etc. were the interesting games being introduced.

He said that the major festivals of the district such as Fagli, Halda, Losar, Kuns, Zukaru, Gochi, Poona, and Lamohi were celebrated during the winter when the valley is covered with snow. These festivals were celebrated in unique ways in different areas. He added that the cultural genres of all events of Lahaul were getting integrated into each other for the first time through this ‘Maha Utsav’.

The Deputy Commissioner said that these festivals would be celebrated in every village in the traditional form. He added that the snow festival, which commenced on January 25, would conclude in the last week of March.