Mandi: Week long International Shivratri fair started at Mandi today. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today inaugurated the fair.
The Chief Minister led the Shivratri procession from the DC office after paying obeisance to the presiding deity of the area Raj Madhav Rao to Paddal ground. The procession consisted around 164 local deities decorated in palanquins and accompanied by their traditional music instruments, band squads, devotees, contingents of Himachal Police, Home Guards etc.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, while addressing the devotees announced increase in the Nazarana (honorarioum) of the deities participating in the International Mandi Shivratri fair by ten percent from this year.
He greeted the people of the state, especially people of district Mandi on this occasion. He also welcomed the deities who have assembled from all corners of the district in numbers to participate in the fair.
Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, Excise and Taxation Minister Prakash Chaudhary, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Anil Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sohan Lal Thakur, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Rangila Ram Rao, Chairman Krishi Gramin Vikas Bank Shiv Lal Kunj, Chairman Milkfed Chet Ram, Chairman SC/ST Corportion Tek Chand Dogra and other prominent people of the town were present on the occasion.
