The two day winter carnival kick-started on Thursday here at Aharbal in Kulgam district of south Kashmir with much enthusiasm.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police South Kashmir Range (SKR), Rayees Mohammad Bhat, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam Dr Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat and District Development Council Chairperson, Mohd Afzal Parry inaugurated the two days festival at Aharbal. The festival was inaugurated by flagging off with a group of 60 trekkers for Chiranbal Meadows.
While addressing the athletes and people at the carnival DIG SKR said that when he visited Aharbal last time it was just a natural waterfall, now it has been explored and people have realized the potential this place possesses.
“Despite the huge accumulation of snow here and the harsh winter, people throng these places. It snows the passion among people that has arrived towards this offbeat place – Aharbal,” DIG said.
Dr Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat, on the occasion said that, among the 75 offbeat tourist places in J&K, Aharbal in Kulgam is one. Organizing festivals like summer and winter is aimed at bringing Kulgam on the tourism map and to promote tourism in Kulgam district.
“The promotion of tourist places upticks the footfall of tourists. The tourism in Kulgam is linked to employment. The more we promote these places the more foreign and domestic tourists throng these places,” DC Kulgam said.
“We want to engage the youth in different activities, like dozens of them have applied to home stays last year,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Kulgam said that the winter tourism besides promoting places also engages the young in sports activities, we want to redefine the concept that sports activities can be held in winter too.
The youth participated in sports activities like volleyball, tug of war, cricket and girls in snow rugby despite the accumulation of heavy snowfall in Aharbal.
