Srinagar, July 14: The department of tourism Kashmir resumed its Valley Weekend programme here at Zabarwan Park on Saturday with stellar performances from noted local singers enthralling the audience.
The Valley Weekend programme is aimed at entertaining tourists, engaging locals in music, cultural and sports activities besides providing platform to the local artists and athletes to showcase their talent.
The department in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages organize these programmes every weekend as part of its tourism promotional campaigns.
Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah said the Department started ‘Valley Weekend’ program to entertain tourists and engage locals with host of activities every weekends.
“Tourists come here and enjoy the beauty but they miss entertainment. Such programs will entertain them and will also attract locals who can come along with families and keep their weekends busy,” said Director Tourism Kashmir.
The entry to the events is free and open to all.
Director Tourism Kashmir said there is lot of misconception among travellers outside the state that Kashmir is not safe “but these events will dilute such misconceptions”.
On Sunday, the department would also organize first ever ‘Srinagar Adventure Race’ which would include swimming, cycling, hiking and running.
Scores of the local athletes have already registered with adventure race which would be flagged off at Nigeen Sports Center at 5:30 am on Sunday where participants would swim 200 meters in Nigeen lake before mounting on Mountain Bikes and ride to Zabarwan Park via Foreshore road and Nishat Garden and then finally climb to Shankaracharya Hill from where they would run back to Zabarwan Park to finish the 27 km adventure race.
The Valley Weekend started last year with the enthralling performance by the Valley’s noted singer Rashid Jahangir in the middle of Dal Lake at Nehru Park attracting large gathering of locals as well as tourists.
Director Tourism Kashmir said they have kept Sundays for sports activities to provide platform for the Valley youth to showcase their talent in sports and improve their performances.
“We organized swimming classes, mountain biking events in the past and many youth were trained in these sports activities. Most of them are also participating in this adventure race. We have provided them every facility to learn these adventure sports activities,” said Mahmood Shah.
Notably, the department of tourism has established cycle hire shop at Zabarwan Park, where both tourists and local alike take bikes on rent at nominal charges and enjoy the local beauty.
“During competitions we don’t charge any rent from the participants for using mountain bikes. We have also organized free swimming classes at Nigeen Club where the facilities and equipment are available for locals to use,” he said.
