Jammu Fest takes off amid multi-media laser show

Jammu, Apr 2: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad declared open the fortnight-long Jammu Festival amid a spectacular multi-media laser show and fire works at the historical Bahu Fort here late last evening.

The entire city reverberated with the colours of fireworks and laser beams creating breathtaking and unbelievable sights. The Jammu Festival is being celebrated in all ten districts of the Province during which events would also be held at district headquarters.

Musical bonanza featuring big names of the music industry like Sonu Nigam, Anoop Jalota and Bhajan Sopori would remain highlights of the festival while the forts in Samba, Bhadarwah and Rajouri would also be illuminated.

Addressing the jam-packed venue after inaugurating the Jammu Festival, the Chief Minister described tourism as potential employment generating sector and asked the people to put in their efforts to create right kind of atmosphere by complimenting the government endeavour to attract more tourists.

''Jammu and Kashmir was known world over as a prominent tourist destination but during the past two decades the tourism sector received severe setbacks but the the situation was changing for the better and tourists from within the country and outside had again started visiting here,'' Mr Azad said.

''New places of tourist attraction, infrastructure and wide publicity, are basic requisites for promoting tourism in the state and above all the right kind of atmosphere to generate a feeling of security among the visitors was important,'' the Chief Minister said.

Thousands of people from the city and outskirts attended the gala opening of the Festival while laser show enthralled the audience with its fabulous colourful effects.

UNI