By: Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar: From organizing air shows to cultural programmes, administration is all set to hold several events to promote Sufism and to attract Kashmiri youth towards Bollywood and aviation.
According to official documents in possession of Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), the government would organize Sufi festivals, workshops and Papers teachings of Sufi Saints like Alamdar-i-Kashmir, Lal Ded, Sufi Mushaira at various universities and colleges.
There will also be a display of handicrafts, calligraphy, painting exhibition and food festival. Houseboats, Shikaras in Dal, Nigeen and Jehlum will also be illuminated.
“There will also be performances on Hafiz Nagma, Kalam-e-Khusroo, Kalam-e-Baba Fareed, Qawwali, Baul Sufi folk, Darrvish Sufi dance, and Haziri Kathak, besides literary seminar on Sufism and exhibition of local arts, calligraphy, and Sufi traditions,” the documents read.
All these events, according to officials, are to promote Sufism and tourism in Kashmir. “Promotion of tourism is the main focus of the government as COVID cases have gone down,” an official said.
Similarly, the government has also decided to organize autumn, houseboat, saffron festivals to promote Kashmir-based destinations, the official said.
Tourism has started picking up since July when there started a decline in COVID cases. Officials told news agency KINS that 2.2 lakh tourists visited Kashmir this year so far.
“Most of them have been visiting since July when COVID cases started going down. There was very less inflow of tourists between February to June,” the official added.
The official said in July around 48,000 tourists arrived in Kashmir while in August the number went up to around 50,000. The tourist arrivals have not only brought back the lost charm to the tourist destinations but filled the stakeholders with hope.
Recently, several road shows have been organised across major cities of the country to promote tourism-related events, activities, and destinations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Authorities have decided to organize an air show along the banks of Dal Lake on Sept 26 to attract Kashmiri youth towards aviation.
It will see fighter jets, helicopters, parachutes including display by Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team, Paramotor, Flypast by Mig-21 Bison, Aerobatics by Su-30 Aircraft. Besides, the air show will also include Akashganga skydiving display, IAF symphony orchestra display and motivational photo exhibition.
Over 4000 people including VVIPs, students, and teachers are expected to see the event. The high profile guests to be present at the air show would be Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, civil dignitaries, defence service officers, AOC-in-C Western Air Command.
Similarly between October 23 to 29, administration has decided to organize programmes which will be attended by several Bollywood celebrities. “This is aimed to provide a platform to local youth to showcase their talent and motivate them towards Bollywood,” the official added.