CM inaugurates Winter Festival in Sankri
my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 24 Dec: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today inaugurated the Kedarkantha Tourism Pilgrimage Winter Festival organised at Sankri in Uttarkashi district. On this occasion, he called for transforming winter tourism into a mass movement with everyone’s cooperation to make the state prosperous and self-reliant. He also stated that winter tourism can lay a strong foundation for a self-reliant Uttarakhand. Upon arriving at the rapidly emerging tourism hub of Sankri, Dhami received a grand welcome and was presented with traditional woollen attire.
He inaugurated the ceremony by flagging off a group of tourists heading to Kedarkantha and interacted with local residents and tourists while inspecting various stalls set up by different departments at the winter festival.
Dhami observed that Sankri is not merely a village but a living museum of Uttarakhand’s folk culture. Expressing gratitude for the affection and enthusiasm shown by the locals during his first visit to Sankri, he observed that the traditional architecture, folk culture, and simple mountain lifestyle here reflect the state’s distinct identity. The CM also emphasised that the festival celebrates Uttarakhand’s faith, culture, tradition, and self-respect, embodying the vision of ‘Development as well as Heritage’. He also asserted that following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for winter travel, unprecedented enthusiasm is being witnessed in areas like Kedarkantha, Harsil, Auli, Munsyari, and Sankri and is creating new local employment opportunities. The youth are becoming self-reliant as trekking guides, homestay owners, and hotel operators, which is helping reduce migration. Winter tourism is also providing a new market for folk artists, handicrafts, traditional cuisine, and local products.
Dhami also stated that the state government is working rapidly across all sectors, including education, health, roads, electricity, and connectivity, with examples such as the construction of parking facilities, road projects in Uttarkashi, and the Purola Sub-District Hospital. Recalling the Silkyara tunnel accident, he noted that safely rescuing 41 workers during the 17-day operation stands as a symbol of the government’s sensitivity and firm resolve. He added that alongside the ongoing development, the government is also strengthening cultural values, law and order, and transparency through initiatives like the Uniform Civil Code, anti-copying laws, strict land laws and a zero-tolerance policy against corruption, positioning Uttarakhand among the leading states in the country.
Among those present on this occasion were District Panchayat President Ramesh Chauhan, Jagat Singh Chauhan, former MLA Malchand, BJP District President Nagendra Chauhan, State Media Coordinator Manveer Chauhan and Chief Development Officer Jaibharat Singh.
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