Himachal CM Sukhu leads traditional Minjar procession as week-long International Minjar Fair concludes in Chamba
Chamba, August 2
The week-long International Minjar Fair concluded on a colourful and traditional note at Chamba on Sunday, with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu leading the ceremonial Shobha Yatra from Akhand Chandi Palace to Manjri Garden for the traditional immersion of the Minjar in the Ravi River.
According to a release, the Chief Minister joined the grand procession of local deities, accompanied by cultural troupes, traditionally attired men and women, tourists, traditional drum beaters and contingents of the Himachal Pradesh Police and Home Guards, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the region.
As per the age-old tradition, CM Sukhu offered the Minjar, comprising a coconut, seasonal fruits and a coin wrapped in a red cloth, to the Ravi River, praying for peace, prosperity and a bountiful harvest.
Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Vice-Chairman of the State Planning Board Bhawani Singh Pathania, MLA Neeraj Nayyar, District Congress President Surjeet Bharmouri, APMC Chamba Chairman Lalit Thakur, Congress leaders Yashwant Khanna and district Congress president Surjit Bharmouri, Amit Bharmouri, Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal, Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar Saklani and other prominent dignitaries accompanied the Chief Minister during the procession, the release said.
Earlier today, CM Sukhu inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 26 development projects worth Rs 333.25 crore for the Chamba assembly constituency at Chamba.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the Rs. 158 crore 200-bedded hospital building of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital, Chamba, Rs. 14.11 crore upgradation of Shahpur Sihunta Chowari Chamba road, Rs. 13.65 crore upgradation of Parel to Kohlari road, according to a release.
The CM also inaugrated Rs. 11.53 crore upgradation of Chamba Banikhet road via Parel, Rs. 6.85 crore upgradation of Luddu to Gharmani road, Rs. 5.78 crore upgradation of Sahran Ran road, Rs. 5.68 crore upgradation of Bhanera Devidehra Rathiar to Mankot road and Box Girder bridge over Ravi river on Karian Bharian Kothi road constructed at a cost of Rs. 4.61 crore.
CM Sukhu laid foundation stones of Rs. 25 crore of construction of vehicle parking phase 1 at Bhagat in Chamba, Rs. 12.59 crore link road to village Drabla, Rs. 5.29 crore link road to Sanotha, Rs. 6.47 crore Sach Fatehpur road, Rs. 2.05 crore link road to village Nanu, Rs. 4.24 crore link road Drada to Seru, Rs. 10.24 crore link road to village Ghargram, the release noted.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is why I love Himachal! The way we blend tradition with development is amazing. The Minjar immersion is a beautiful ritual and seeing tourists join in shows our culture is alive and welcoming. Rs 333 crore for Chamba is a good start but road connectivity needs more attention - villages still struggle. 🌿
I was visiting Chamba last summer and the Minjar fair is truly spectacular. The colors, the devotion, the community spirit - it's everything that makes India special. Great to see the CM personally participating rather than just sending representatives. This is how cultural heritage should be celebrated!
While I appreciate the cultural celebration, I can't help but wonder about the timing. We're spending crores on a grand fair and inaugurations, but healthcare infrastructure in remote areas remains poor. The 200-bed hospital is welcome, but what about the smaller health centers in distant villages? Prioritize basics first.
Proud moment for all Himachalis! The Minjar procession with local deities and traditional drummers is our identity. But why is the CM always doing inaugurations during festivals? These development projects should have been done earlier. Anyway, good to see our heritage getting global recognition. Jai Himachal! 🙏
Amazing to see how deeply tradition runs here. In the West, festivals have become commercialized, but in Chamba, the Minjar fair feels genuine - people from all backgrounds joining the procession, the simple offering of fruits and coconut in the Ravi. This is why I moved to India. Respect for roots.
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