IN PICS: Snow festival begins in Pahalgam

A snow festival organised by the Army at the famous south Kashmir health resort of Pahalgam attracted a large number of locals and tourists. Mukhtar Ahmed reports

The festival, a first of its kind at Pahalgam was held in the backdrop of the snow-clad mountains on the banks of river Lidder which flows through the health resort.

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Pahalgam, that is nearly 80 kilometres from capital Srinagar is also the starting point to the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath.

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Organised by the army's counter insurgency wing, 3-Rashtriya Rifles, the State Tourism department in coordination with the Pahalgam Development Authority, the festival apart from holding competitive games for all age groups had on display various informative and recreational outlets in addition to game stalls, local handicraft stalls, a medical aid centre and food stalls.

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Locals, including the children as also the tourists took part in the games competition winning various prizes.

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"Pahalgam is really a beautiful place and the nearly three feet snow has added to its charm. I am visiting this place for the first time during winters and am thrilled. Gulmarg is a small Valley, but Pahalgam has more space for enjoyment," said Sunita a tourist from Gujarat.

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Maj Gen Gurdeep Singh, AVSM, GOC CIF (V) who was the chief guest on the occasion distributed prizes among the participants. He said 'the festival was an effort to merge the gap between the army and the local population'.

He also said the aim of the festival was to boost the tourism in the area. "More such festivals are in the offing," an officer said.