The magazine of 32nd Taj Mahotsav was released.
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Open sky tour with hot air balloon in Agra. Horse and camel riding, racing wearing traditional clothes. Flying colorful kites, thrill of car and bike rally. All this will happen this time in the 32nd Taj Mahotsav. On Thursday, Divisional Commissioner Ritu Maheshwari released the magazine of the 10-day festival running from 17 to 27 February.
DM Bhanu Chandra Goswami, ADA Vice President Charcha Gaur, Municipal Commissioner Ankit Khandelwal, CDO Pratibha Singh and Joint Director Tourism Avinash Mishra were present during the announcement of programs at Hotel Taj Khema.
Mahotsav Committee Chairperson and Divisional Commissioner Ritu Maheshwari said that presentations will be held at Shilpgram, Sursadan, Gira Sadhi Park, I Love Selfie Point, Taj View Garden, Sadar Bazaar. Along with Bollywood singers, local talents will get a platform to showcase their art.
There will be a confluence of cuisine, art and culture. The Taj Mahotsav will blossom with the determination of a developed India. The festival being organized on the theme of culture and prosperity will be special this time. He told that programs have been decided at all the places.
For the first time, there will be a bird watching festival, cycle rally, photo gallery and wall painting competition at Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Keetham. Agra Beyond Taj Seminar will be held at Hotel Double Tree by Hilton. In which Shiv temple of Agra and Bateshwar temple series will be discussed. There will be a heritage walk from the western gate of Taj Mahal to Ahmed Shah Bukhari Dargah via the eastern gate.
Apart from the flower exhibition, the ghats of Yamuna will be illuminated with lamps during the Maha Aarti. Taj Mahotsav was started in 1992. Since then this festival of arts, crafts and cuisine has been adding new dimensions every year.
This time there will be special programs
Art and Craft Fair in Shilpgram will run daily from 10 am onwards from 18th February. There will be a traditional dress race from I Love Selfie Point to Shilpgram on 16th February. From 24 to 25 February, there will be a kite festival, horse and camel ride at 11 Stair Park in Mahtab Bagh. There will be Roop Kumar Rathore’s Ghazal on 25th February and Yamuna Maha Aarti on 18th February. There will be a hot air balloon ride at Eleven Stairs Park from February 18.
Cultural programs at all venues
Cultural programs will be organized at all the venues from 5.30 pm to 10 pm. Presentations by local artists will start at Shilpgram from 10 am. On 17th February, programs will start with Braj Ki Holi in Shilpgram and Meera dance drama and Mushaira in Surasadan. In Shilpgram, where the magic of Javed Ali, Madhushree Bhattacharya, Ankit Tiwari, Salman Ali, Sufi singing of Osman Mir, the voices of Jassi, Monali Thakur, Nizami Bandhu and Tulsi Kumar will spread. Dramas like Chanakya, Dashavatar, Bade Phange Gulfam, Jeena Issi Naam Hai… will be staged in Surasadan. On 21st February, Bhajan Samrat Anup Jalota will perform the devotional stream in Surasadan.