Taj Mahotsav In Agra To Begin With Yamuna Aarti

Agra, February 16 (TNA) Agra district administration has decided to organise daily Yamuna Aarti at the Etmauddaula view point, developed by the River Connect Campaign members in 2014. Yamuna, the presiding deity of Agra city, fascinated the Mughals who built some of their best monuments along its banks.

After decades of campaigning, and protest movements, the administration has now recognised the central role of Yamuna maiyya that flows through the city, thanks to the initiative of Agra divisional commissioner Ritu Maheshwari and municipal commissioner Ankit Khandelwal, says Yamuna Arti mahant pandit Jugal Kishor.

The Yamuna Arti campaigners are upbeat after allocation of more than Rs 200 crores for the barrage downstream of the Taj Mahal. Indications are that work could begin this summer. This year, the Taj Mahotsav, the ten day long carnival of music, dances, cultural extravaganza, starting from February 18, will focus on Viksit Bharat.

The fair will howcase the industrial strides and developmental targets achieved by the Yogi government. This year’s Taj Mahotsav will include an arts and crafts Mela, Yamuna Maha Arti, Bird Watching tours, photography exhibition, flower show, car and bike rally, hot air balloon rides, puppet shows, etc., in addition to entertainment programmes at the open air theatre.

Musical programmes by Anoop Jalota, Chandan Das, stand up comedy show by Amit Tandon, would be held at the Soor Sadan auditorium. Singers including Javed Ali, Salman Ali, Nizami Brothers, Roop Kumar and Sonali Rathod, plus Swati Mishra, Meenaxi Thakur, will present programmes in the evenings. Several theatre groups have also been lined up, in addition to Mushairas and Kavi Sammelans.

Officials said Agra was an international tourist centre which should be recognised also for its culture, cuisine and handicrafts.

The Taj Mahotsav this year would make a serious bid to present a new and positive profile of Agra and Uttar Pradesh. Under the ODOP programme, 50 stalls would showcase products from different districts of the state.

New tourist spots like Taj View Point, Gyarah Seedi, Soor Sarovar, and Etmauddaula View Point will be popularised by holding programmes. Local artistes will get an opportunity to present their talent at the indoor auditorium within the Shilpgram complex. Audition to select the local artistes has already been held.

For ten days all roads in Agra will lead to the Taj Mahotsav venue, which will turn into a major entertainment hub. “Our aim is to promote tourism and we expect a large number of foreign tourists to visit the mahotsav daily,” officials said.