Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the fourth ‘Uttarakhand Lok Virasat’ program at Social Baluni Public School, Haridwar Bypass, Dehradun on Sunday. On this occasion, he also observed stalls based on local products of Uttarakhand.
The Chief Minister said that this is a commendable initiative to preserve the cultural heritage of the state and pass it on to the future generation by bringing folk artists from every corner of Uttarakhand on one platform. While wishing all the members of the Uttarakhand Lok Virasat team, he said that all the folk artists of our Uttarakhand are working to pass on the cultural heritage of Uttarakhand to the new generation with their hard work and dedication.
The Chief Minister said that the rich folk culture of Uttarakhand is very vast and unique. Many types of styles of folk singing, folk music and folk dance and many types of musical instruments make our folk culture more rich. Today, many folk dances like Chholia dance, Jhora, Chanchari, Nevli, Pandav dance and Mask dance are preserving our cultural heritage.
The Chief Minister said that today’s youth likes our folk music and are also working to promote it. Nowadays, by forming their own musical bands, the youth are also working to give a new identity to the folk songs of Uttarakhand with a new look.
The Chief Minister said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is continuously working with commitment for the all-round development of the state as well as cultural development. The government is giving Uttarakhand Sahitya Gaurav Samman for excellent literary service in folk languages and folk literature including Kumaoni, Garhwali, Jaunsari and other dialects and sub-dialects of the state. Along with getting the various religious and cultural places of the state rebuilt, cultural fairs are being organized in a more grand manner.
The Chief Minister said that financial assistance is also being provided for publishing books and film production in various local languages of the state. Recently our first Jaunsari feature film has been released. He said that the state government has taken strict action against encroachment to preserve the cultural values and demography of the state. A strict “anti-conversion law” has also been implemented in the state. Outsiders buying land in the state are being thoroughly investigated. If any person is found violating the rules, his plot will be vested in government property. He said that the state government is soon going to bring a strict land law.
On this occasion, folk singer Narendra Singh Negi, Padma Pritam Bharatwan, Kamala Devi Uttarakhand Lok Virasat Trust President Dr. KP Joshi, Sudhir Nautiyal and others were present.
