Tuesday, 20 AUGUST 2024 | my uttarakhand news | DEHRADUN Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the historic Baghwal Mela at Devidhura in Champawat district on the occasion of Rakshabandhan on Monday. As seen in recent years, the traditional fair which saw groups of men pelting each other only with stones in the past, had men also throwing fruits on each other. The ritual pelting lasted for about 11 minutes. Addressing the public, Dhami said that the Bagwal Mela held at Ma Varahi Dham on this occasion is a part of the State’s cultural heritage. He announced flood protection works at Ratiya river in Reetha along with the construction of an alternative approach road. The remaining infrastructural works at Varahi temple will be included in works under the Manaskhand corridor. Stating that this fair is a confluence of folk culture and faith, he stressed on the need to further encourage such traditions. The coming generations should receive the energy to maintain the old traditions and carry them forward, he said, while stressing that carrying forward cultural traditions is a collective responsibility. Dhami said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State government is working to conserve Uttarakhand’s cultural heritage and develop ancient sites. The important temples in the Kumaon region are being beautified under the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission with Devidhura also being an important part of this project. The government is also working on connecting the Manaskhand temples by ropeway as is being done for the Char Dham, he said.