Badri Kedar Utsav begins

Hardwar, June 3, (UNI) The Badri Kedar Utsav organised by the state culture department to focus on the Char Dham Yatra began at Har Ki-Pauri here.

The festival was inaugurated by chairperson of the State Women Commission Dr Santosh Chauhan yesterday. She said the objective of the festival was to showcase the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the state through folk songs, folk dances and ballets by artistes of national&international repute.

principal secretary of the culture department of the state S K Mattoo said the next phase of the utsav would be held at Rudraprayag on June 8. The festival will culminate at Badrinath on June 12.

The highlights of the festival were the peacock dances performed by the artistes of Shri Giri Raj Krishan Sanskratik Kala Samiti of Mathura and the devotional songs of the classical singers, Rajan-Sajan Misra, with the placid&soothing stream of the Ganga lending magnificent touch.

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