Bandipora: The District Administration Bandipora in collaboration with Ali Sports Academy and Department of Forest on Sunday organised a special Winter Carnival and Snow festival in picturesque Ketson village of Bandipora district with an aim to explore the potential of the area for Winter tourism and Winter sports.
A huge group of more than 700 residents across the district converged at Ketson village in Aloosa block on cold Sunday morning and started a trek to Nagmarg – a meadow in the nearby forests bordering Lolab valley on the other side of the mountains.
At Nagmarg the Ali Sports Academy organised a range of sports activities including Snow Volleyball, Snow Rugby, Snow Kabaddi, RasaKashi besides hiking.
Enroute the participants were entertained by the folk music by local Gujjar/Pahari families besides playing soulful tunes over flute/bansuri during the trek.
Several cultural and musical programmes were also held at Nagmarg that enthralled the audience.
On the occasion, Chairman Ali Sports academy and Padma shree awardee Faisal Ali Dar said the aim of organising the event was to do some productive work amid sub zero temperature when everyone loves to stay indoors.
He said it also aimed to explore the tourism potential of the area. He said the KetsonNagmarg region has a huge potential and such events will help to further promote the tourism of the area.
Dar said they will promote tourism of this particular area by inviting people from other areas of the country.
The officers further stated that such events help the youth to spend their leisure time in useful activities so that they stay away from drug addiction.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Dr. Owais Ahmad appreciated the initiative and said that these events shall go a long way to promote tourism and outreach activities in the district. He further said that more such events are in pipeline and a Mega Snow Carnival is also scheduled to be held across various tourist destinations of the district.
