Punjab CM exhorts Virsa Vihar to preserve cultural heritage

Jalandhar, Oct 13 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said his Government was committed to the promotion of Punjab's rich cultural heritage through Virsa Vihar Centres to apprise the young generation of the glorious past enriched with age-old traditional and moral values.

Addressing the distinguished gathering after inaugurating the Virsa Vihar Center here, Capt Singh said it was a matter of great pride and honour for the state for establishing such institutions for the propagation of Punjab's rich heritage and two such centers had already been set up at Amritsar and Kapurthala.

He said Congress government also started the practice of organising cultural festivals at Patiala in Malwa, Kapurthala in Doaba and Amritsar in Majha to showcase the age-old cultural ties in the state.

He said these cultural festivals had evoked encouraging response from the masses because the people had a keen desire to know about their traditional art and culture and it was the duty of the government to cherish the aspirations of the people.

Capt Singh further said these Virsa Vihars should not only be monuments but should act as a vehicle for the propagation of cultural heritage through organising training in the music both vocal and classical besides art and handicrafts.

He said Centers should strive hard to engage the services of the descendents of Bade Gulham Ali of Patiala Gharana, Munwar and Javed Ali grandsons of late Gulham Ali and renowned classical gharana of Sham Churasi.

He hoped that Virsa Vihars could off set the impact of western music on India's traditional and classical music enormously.

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