DODA: The District Administration Doda, in collaboration with the Tourism Department, Jammu & Kashmir, NGO Tejas Ek Pahal and the Indian Army, successfully organized the Winter Mega Festival-2026 at the picturesque tourist destination Lal Draman, attracting a massive gathering of visitors and locals alike.
The grand event was organized under the visionary guidance of the Deputy Commissioner, Harvinder Singh and witnessed overwhelming public participation. The success of the festival was attributed to the dedicated efforts of the District Administration Doda, Tourism Department, Indian Army and the exceptional commitment of Chairman, NGO Tejas Ek Pahal, Akash Parihar, along with his devoted team.
Chairman District Development Council, Dhananter Singh Kotwal was the Chief Guest, while ADC, Anil Kumar Thakur graced the event as Guest of Honour.
The event commenced with the lighting of the traditional lamp by the Chief Guest, marking the auspicious beginning of the festival.
The festival showcased vibrant departmental stalls, local food stalls and colorful cultural performances by local artists featuring rich folk traditions including Gojri, Dogri, Sarazi, Bhaderwahi and Kashmiri songs and dances. A spectacular Tiranga Rally consisting of students of the government and private schools, carrying a 50-metre-long Tricolour, added patriotic fervour to the event. The mesmerizing snow-capped landscape was further beautified by colourful rangoli decorations, captivating the audience.
A large number of people from all age groups participated enthusiastically, making the event a grand success.
The programme was also attended by DDC Member Yudhvir Singh, ASP Headquarters Doda Mohd Aslam, ACD Doda Din Mohd Afaqi, SDM Phellail Singh, DySP Headquarters Krishan Rattan, officers of the Indian Army, political dignitaries, NGO representatives and members of civil society.
The Chief Guest and Guest of Honour were warmly welcomed by NCC cadets, who also participated in the Tiranga Rally. A traditional turban-wearing ceremony, featuring beautiful Kesari-coloured turbans, emerged as one of the major highlights of the event.
The welcome address was delivered by ACD Din Mohammad Afaqi, who also served as the Nodal Officer for all event arrangements.
The programme featured captivating folk-dance performances by student groups and local artists. The Sarazi folk dance and song, performed in traditional attire, was highly appreciated, with the renowned Sarazi artist Surinder Parihar presenting the iconic Sarazi Kud, which remained the main attraction of the festival.
The Winter Mega Festival–2026 at Lal Draman successfully promoted local culture, tourism and community participation, reinforcing Doda’s identity as a vibrant cultural and tourism hub.
