*Two-day Zero Waste Teej Mahotsav begins with Punjabi folk, Giddha & Bhangra in Chandigarh*
*Mayor inaugurates colorful Teej Mahotsav dedicated to “Har Ghar Tiranga” theme at Garden of Shrubs Sector 46*
*Master Saleem enthralls audience with various Punjabi numbers*
*Chandigarh, August 10:-* Municipal Corporation’s grand Zero Waste Teej Mahotsav celebrations have begun today at the Garden of Shrubs, Sector 46-C, Chandigarh. Sh. Kuldeep Kumar, Mayor, Chandigarh inaugurated the two-day colorful Zero Waste Teej Mahotsav in the Garden of Shrubs, Sector 46, today in the presence of Sh. Gurpreet Singh Gabi, area councillor, other councillors, prominent persons of City Beautiful, officers of MCC and citizens.
The two-day mela dedicated to the “Har Ghar Tiranga: My Nation, My Pride” theme, featured Punjabi, Haryanvi, Rajasthani folk dances, songs, fusion of Giddha & Bhangra and Teeian de Geet by famous artists from various states. The audience present at the mela could not resist dancing to the foot-tapping beats of “Dhol” and popular Punjabi numbers.
The Mayor stressed the necessity to perpetuate cultural values among the masses, especially the younger generation. He also enlightened the gathering about the social, religious and historical significance of the Teej Mahotsav.
Addressing the gathering, the Mayor said that Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has made this mela an annual feature and this time dedicated it to Har Ghar Tiranga under the “My Nation, My Pride” theme. He expressed the hope that the people of Chandigarh would learn about their rich culture, and the Municipal Corporation is making a small effort to preserve the precious traditional festivals like Teej.
He further appreciated the efforts of the MC Chandigarh in making the two-day mela a zero-waste event, commending the commitment to sustainability demonstrated by the festival.
Municipal Commissioner Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS acknowledged the tireless efforts of the entire team in making this year’s celebration memorable while maintaining cleanliness and hygiene.
The festival embraced a zero-waste initiative, showcasing the civic body’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. The MC team and the SHGs (Self-Help Groups) aimed to raise awareness about waste management, recycling products, composting, and community empowerment. Various services of MCC were showcased, including Fire & Emergency Services, Safaimitra, Swachh Bharat Mission, C&D Waste Recycled Products, Horticulture Waste Products, Home Composting, Prarambh- Arpan products from Floral Waste, NAYA SA, Bartan Bhandar ,Safai Mitra Equipment Stalls, and Fire Rescue Services.
To enhance the festival experience for visitors, MC Chandigarh provided public amenities, including a lost and found counter, a medical counter, water facilities, and clean and hygienic public conveniences.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, the MCC organized the eco-friendly ‘Zero Waste Rasoi’ food court, offering reasonably priced food items within the festival premises. The use of plastic items was strictly prohibited, and the promotion of biodegradable and recyclable products was encouraged.
The “Game Zone”, a live game setup, was the main attraction for the young generation, where a potter’s wheel taught children and other visitors to make clay pots and color them. The “Swachhata ki Wheels” game was also a special part of the zone. A selfie point with a traditional setup was a popular spot for visitors.
Other attractions of the mela included camel rides, cart rides, Dholi, Madari, Behrupiya, Been Jogi, Nachar, Nagada, Charkhe, Manjire, Tumbe, Jamura Show, puppet show, fashion show, different stalls of sweets and lassi, Maal-Pua, handicrafts, designer fabrics and other domestic items by Self-Help Groups and Street Vendors. The stage was decorated with colorful lights and traditional flags. The streets were filled with a fusion of traditional folk, beats of Dhol and Teejan di Geet, and Giddha and Bhangra.
In the cultural evening, the famous singer Master Saleem enthralled the audience with various Punjabi numbers.
Tomorrow morning (August 11th), the Mela will begin with folk dances and other shows including Been Jogi, Kal Beliya and Ghumar etc besides Magic Show. A culture evening will also be organized by famous Punjabi singer Resham Singh Anmol.
