Chandigarh, November 22:- Marked with fun, frolic, merriment and creativity, the Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, PVSM VSM, inaugurated the eagerly awaited CHANDIGARH CARNIVAL at Leisure Valley, amidst releasing of balloons, playing of bands, beating of drums performances of Punjabi Giddhas, Bhangra, dances of different states and display of distinctive regional art forms.
Full of cultural peasantry, festive feasting and artistic creative activities, the Carnival involving considerable effort, attracted huge crowds including foreign tourists as well as locals with a message of harmonious living and working together for a good cause.
Accompanied by Mrs. Jean Rodrigues, the Administrator went round the aesthetically and beautifully decorated stalls put up by various organizations aiming to educate the people and creating general awareness on different issues of societal interest. The artistic endeavours, handicrafts, tourism related activities, traffic management, depiction of Indian culture & heritage through different modes, dominated the scene. He flagged off the colourful procession of beautifully structured floats accompanying the young artists & children attired in regional costumes, with the theme "Chandigarh a fine blend of the traditional and the modern".
General and Mrs. Jean Rodrigues during their visit to various stalls interacted with the organizers and suggested the need to be innovative in their approach and to utilize their service oriented activities for the benefit of society at large. At the stall put up by the Science & Technology, he told the team managers to popularize the concept of solar energy among the people and plan thoughtfully structured programmes for their utilization. During his visit to the Art & Craft Stall put up by different organizations, he asked the Home Secretary & Director Museum and Art Gallery to evolve comprehensive programmes for promoting art forms and to upgrade the skills of young artists, by giving them a platform to show their talent. He also took a keen interest in the craft paper goods, including greeting cards and posters prepared by the young children and suggested the need for making this programme a commercial viable venture to help the students.
General & Mrs. Jean Rodrigues joined senior citizens in the Bhangra performance and spent considerable time with the artists and architects engrossed in various creative and artistic activities. At the Chandigarh College of Architecture stall, he asked the senior faculty members to give a new direction to the building plans relevant to our futuristic long-term requirements with focus on optimal space utilization and leaving the old patterns.
The annual Carnival event, this year, has many new novelties with the participation of foreign countries including Japan, Germany and France exhibiting their art and culture through medium of photography and visuals. It is for the first time that there was a special feature by ‘Air Force Display’. The Carnival Village have huts made of Bamboos, Tart, mud lippai and other handicrafts. It also has a separate section for corporates and business houses. Pyramid of Flowers by the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh and Water Feature by the Chandigarh Housing Board added more colors to the Carnival.
Amusement Park for Children providing swings and rides, Hanging Bridge and Children Traffic Park were the major attractions in the Carnival. Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, Chandigarh Shaitya Akademi, Chandgiarh Sangeet Natak Akademi, College of Architecture, College of Arts, Educational Institutes, Le Corbusier Center, Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society and various Departments of Chandigarh Administration including Information Technology, Chandigarh Housing Board, State Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh Tourism, Chandigarh Police, Haryana Tourism also put up their stalls.
Food Court comprising of ‘CITCO da Vehra’, stalls by Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management and Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management were put up for providing quality food to the visitors. The artistes of NZCC enthralled the visitors during the celebrations through their performances.
The senior officers who accompanied the Administrator during the festival included Mr. M.P. Singh, Secretary to Governor, Mr. Ram Niwas, Home Secretary, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Finance Secretary, Mr. R.K. Rao, Deputy Commissioner, Mr. S.S. Srivastava, SSP, Mr. Samvartak Singh, Director Tourism and Director Public Relations, Mr. R.S. Verma.