Dehradun: The five-day Lok Samvardhan Parv began on Saturday at Parade Ground in Dehradun. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju jointly inaugurated the festival and also participated in a plantation drive under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.
The festival, running from 11 to 15 July, brings together artisans, craftsmen, folk artists, entrepreneurs, and culinary experts from across India to showcase traditional crafts, local products, and cultural heritage. More than 150 stalls featuring handicrafts, handloom products, regional cuisines, and cultural exhibits have been set up at the venue.
Chief Minister Dhami said Uttarakhand had become the first state in the country to organize the festival in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs. He added that such events help preserve India’s cultural heritage while creating new markets and livelihood opportunities for artisans and folk artists.
He also highlighted various state government schemes aimed at the educational, economic, and social empowerment of minority communities, including scholarships, skill development, self-employment initiatives, education loans, and the Mukhyamantri Hunar Yojana. He urged residents and tourists to visit the festival and support local artisans by purchasing their products.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju described the festival as more than just an exhibition, calling it a national celebration of India’s cultural diversity, traditional crafts, and artisans. He said the event, organised under the PM VIKAS (Prime Minister’s Virasat Ka Samvardhan) scheme, provides craftsmen with valuable opportunities for marketing, branding, and employment. He also appreciated the Uttarakhand government’s support in organizing the festival.
