Leaving behind the tumultuous period of stone pelting, Kashmir is trying to make a new beginning this year. Thanks to Jashan-e-Dal (Dal festival), the lake comes alive with music, sports and entertainment.
Leaving behind the tumultuous period of stone pelting, Kashmir is trying to make a new beginning this year. Thanks to Jashan-e-Dal (Dal festival), the lake comes alive with music, sports and entertainment.
“Dal Lake is the identity of Kashmir and its dwellers have grown while playing in its waters. The Lake has boosted our tourism potential and economy for centuries,” said Kuldeep Khoda, director general of police, while inaugurating Jashan-e-Dal, a three-day water sports festival organised by the J&K police.
The festival has been held after a year and more than 600 participants are participating in nine events for the next three days. From shikara race to boat race to dragon boat race to kayak to canoeto, water polo to swimming, Dal Lake will see it all.
Local musical troupes have been roped in to add entertainment quotient to the three-day event. Traditional singers donning the Kashmiri attires sing Chakri (Kashmiri folklore) in shikaras to the amusement of the spectators. School children too have chipped in to present cultural programmes much to the cheer of tourists.
“Dal has been inviting attention of nature lovers and water sportsmen cutting across geographical barriers and water sports has become a flourishing and fast spreading game in the Valley,” said Khoda.
The event is being held in the backdrop of violent unrest in the last three years which claimed more than 180 lives and thousands were injured or maimed for life.
“We could not hold the event last year because of the situation. But this year we are doing it on a grand scale. Such activities help to boost sports, culture among the youth and provides a platform for talented sportspersons of the state to display their skill rather than living in closed compartments,” said Khoda.
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