Government wants the private sector to play a greater role in organising the fest.
This year's Rannotsav, or Kutch festival, will be held for three days from December 1-3 at Dhordo village on the edge of the Great Rann of Kutch. The village boasts of centuries-old, artistically made colourful traditional thatched huts, locally known as Bhungas.
This venue for the annual event was chosen specially to give tourists an opportunity to move around on the moon-lit white surface of the Rann. Chief minister Narendra Modi not only visits the festival himself but also brings with him some selected dignitaries, mainly India-based ambassadors and high commissioners of foreign countries.
The festival is being organised since the early nineties to bring Kutch, a land rich in history, culture, archaeological sites and handicrafts, on the tourism map of the country.
So far, the state government has been bearing the entire cost of organising the festival, but the district administration wants it to be organised by people from this year. A meeting has been called next week to discuss the issue.
"Yes, we want the festival to be organised by people themselves. We are in no way shying from our responsibility. Nor is this an official decision of the government. Even if it is taken over by people, we will always be there to help in development of more basic facilities," said district magistrate RR Varsani.
He pointed out that last year the govt built an approach road to Dhordo village; now a move was on to make a pucca road at the cost of Rs1crore.
Varsani added that the raised land to pitch more than 400 tents still existed in good condition. "We want the NGOs engaged in promotion of tourism to come forward to erect tents and offer them to tourists for stay during the festival. We want least intervention of the government in the festival." He said he was approached by certain hoteliers to make use of the tents after the festival. To a query, he said invitees to the next week's meeting included hoteliers, NGOs, officials of the government and tourism department.
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