25th, Sept, 2023

Topic: HP CM inaugurates the curtain raiser and releases brochure for International Kullu Dussehra Festival.

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

Importance for  Prelims: History, geography, political, art & culture and socio-economic development of Himachal Pradesh.

Significance for the Mains Exam:

PAPER-IV: GENERAL STUDIES-I: UNIT III: Society and Culture in Himachal Pradesh: Culture, customs, fairs and festivals, and religious beliefs and practices, recreation and amusement.

What is the news?

• Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the curtain raiser and releases a brochure for the upcoming International Kullu Dussehra Festival, marking a significant step in the promotion of tourism in the region.
• While presiding over a meeting of the State Level Kullu Dussehra Committee here today, the Chief Minister said that this year the weeklong festival will be celebrated from 24th to 30th October, 2023.

Important to know:

• Chief Minister said that this year’s International Kullu Dussehra Festival was all set to be a truly global event. The celebration will feature cultural groups from different states, along with participants from 19 countries, including Russia, Israel, Romania, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, Panama, Iran, Maldives, Malaysia, Kenya, South Sudan, Zambia, Ghana, and Ethiopia, adding a diverse and international flair to the festivities.

 

History of Kullu Dussehra:

• Kullu Dussehra has been around since the 17th century, when Raja Jagat Singh was king. A story says that a Brahmin named Durgadutt cursed Raja Jagat Singh because he was wrongly accused of taking the Raja’s pearls. He lost his country and got sick because of the curse.
• To get rid of the curse, people told Raja Jagat Singh to bring an image of Lord Raghunath from Ayodhya. He sent Damodar Dass, who was his minister, to Ayodhya to get the idol. It was successful for Damodar Dass, and the figure of Lord Raghunath was put in a temple in Kullu.
• The curse was broken when the idol was put in place, and Raja Jagat Singh got his land and health back. The Raja wanted to show his thanks to Lord Raghunath by having a big celebration for Dussehra. With a lot of fanfare and pomp, the Kullu Dussehra Festival has been held every year since then.
• There is another story about the Kullu Dussehra Festival that says it celebrates Lord Rama’s win over the demon king Ravana. The gods and goddesses of the Kullu Valley got together to help Lord Rama fight Ravana, so the story goes. These gods and goddesses came back to the Kullu Valley after Lord Rama’s win and were worshipped by the people there.
• The Kullu Dussehra Festival is a one-of-a-kind event that shows off the Kullu Valley’s rich culture and customs. For Hindus, it is also a religiously important event because it marks the win of good over evil.
• In 1972, the Kullu Dussehra Festival was made an international event. It is now one of the biggest and best-known Dussehra parties in the world. It is a must-see for anyone who wants to learn about India’s culture history.

 

About the International Kullu Dussehra Festival:

• In October, Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu Valley hosts the week-long International Kullu Dussehra Festival. It has distinct rites and traditions and is one of the most famous and magnificent Dussehra events in the country.
• Over 300 deities from Kullu Valley villages are transported in palanquins to Dhalpur Maidan, the festival’s primary location. Devotees worship the goddesses in specifically built Maidan temples.
• The Rath Yatra, or chariot parade, on the fifth day of the festival is a major event. With many devotees and musicians, the deities’ palanquins are paraded around Kullu town.
• On the seventh day, the Lanka effigy is burned to celebrate good over evil. The effigy is burned followed by spectacular fireworks.
• Cultural festivities like ethnic dances, music, and handicraft exhibitions complement the religious rites at the Kullu Dussehra Festival. Tourists from India and abroad flock to the celebration.
• Now one of the world’s most popular Dussehra festivities, the Kullu Festival was named an international event in 1972. It’s a rare chance to see Kullu Valley culture and witness a stunning celebration of virtue over evil.

 

Highlights of the International Kullu Dussehra Festival:

• Over 300 Kullu Valley deities from various villages arrive.
• The Kullu deity Rath Yatra, or chariot procession.
• Burning the Lanka effigy on festival day seven.
• Traditional folk dances, music, and handicrafts.

(Source: HP Government)

 

Topic: Himachal govt introduces bill to regulate appointment of VCs in State

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

Importance for  Prelims: Indian polity and governance – Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Significance for the Mains Exam:

PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: Polity

What is the news?

• The government of Himachal Pradesh has introduced a bill in the assembly that would give it the power to “help and advise” the governor in choosing vice-chancellors for two universities in the state that teach agriculture and the garden.

Where will the proposed legislation be applicable?

• The Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is the planned law that will affect Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Krishi Vishvavidyalay, Palampur, and Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan.

 

What is the way things are now?

• Now, the VCs are chosen by the governor, who is also the chancellor of the state-run universities, based on the advice of a selection committee made up of the governor’s choice, the chairman of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and the chairman of the University Grants Commission, or someone chosen by him.

 

What are the changes?

• Sections 23 and 24 of the Act were changed to say that the governor must choose the vice chancellor with the government’s “help and advice.”
• The move would make sure that workers at twin universities have the same benefits and pay, according to the bill.

(News Source: economictimes)

 

 

Topic: Himachal Pradesh to review dam safety Act to check excess outflow.

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

Importance for  Prelims: General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization and General science

Significance for the Mains Exam:

PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-I: Approaches to Disaster Risk Reductions.

What is the news?

• The chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, said today that the government had sent warnings to 21 dams for flooding low-lying areas in Kangra and Una districts after recent heavy rain.
• In response to a question from BJP MLA Vipin Parmar in the Vidhan Sabha, Sukhu said that the Dam Safety Act, 2021, would be looked at again to stop future floods. CM said during question hour, “The dam Act has provisions for a safety plan in catchment areas, but there are none for belts downstream.”

Problems that low-lying places face:

• People in towns in Kangra’s Indora and Fatehpur blocks lost a lot of money when the Bhakra Beas Management Board let water out of Pong Dam. “Notices have been sent to 21 dams for letting out huge amounts of water,” he said.
• The state of Himachal was getting a royalty of Rs 1,800 crore every year from using 11,000 MW of power, even though it had the potential for 25,000 MW of water, he said.
• Vipin, a BJP MLA, said that even though 173 hydroelectric projects in the state were making electricity, only 23 dams were covered by the Dam Safety Act.

Move after flooding:

• HP will look over the Dam Safety Act to make sure that low-lying places don’t get flooded again.
• The Act doesn’t say anything about safety for places that are downstream of any dam.
• When the water from Pong Dam was let out, it flooded villages in Indora and Fatehpur in Kangra.

(News Source: The Tribune)