Himachal Pradesh hosts winter carnival

A five-day long winter carnival was kick started with a colourful parade on Wednesday here in Himachal Pradesh. Hundreds of artists from fifteen States from across the country are participating in the carnival, organised by Himachal Pradesh government. A large gathering including people from the town and tourists from abroad gathered on the narrow streets of Manali to watch the parade showcasing regional culture. On the first day, many beautifully decorated tableaux of various States were taken out while several artists danced throughout the long procession. "We want to showcase the old and rich culture of this place. We show what we wear and our living conditions... There is lot of enthusiasm among the local people and the women here," said, Naina, a local participant.

The annual event, which was started in the late 70s, was declared a State-level festival two years back in a bid to promote tourism in Himachal Pradesh, the picturesque hilly State. "We are giving it wide publicity abroad, so that the tourists and all the people who are interested in having a look at our culture of Himachal Pradesh and welcome them," said Raj Krishan Gaur, State Agriculture minister in Himachal Pradesh. The carnival will continue till Sunday (January 7). Tourism is the mainstay of State's economy of Himachal Pradesh, which generates about 100 million dollars. About sixty-seven lakh tourists visited Himachal Pradesh during 2005 and the State is expecting a 10 per cent growth in 2007. The State government offers several incentives to tourists during the non-peak season from mid-November to mid-April.

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