Lohri Celebrations Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex Jammu

Lohri & Swami Vivekananda Jayanti Celebrated at Mubarak Mandi

Jammu Diary in association with International Dogra Society(IDS) and Himalayan Heritage Foundation(HHF) celebrated Lohri festival and National Youth Day(Swami Vivekananda (Jayanti) at Mubarak Mandi(Darbar Garh).The celebrations are a continuous and comprehensive initiative by the civil society, professionals and experts from varied fields in tourism, heritage preservation and conservation of Jammu, to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Duggar at national and international level. The efforts are towards giving Jammu its due place in the national consciousness of Bharat and sensitise the Dogras of Jammu in particular and people of Jammu and Kashmir in general about their rich cultural and civilisational legacy.

Advocate Purnima Sharma Deputy Mayor of JMC,who was the Chief Guest on the occasion said “ Lohri is a festival of cultural and civilisational importance, showcasing it gives identity to Dogras of Jammu as the torch bearers of rich heritage. This gives a message of prosperity and brings to the fore the cultural continuity that we have inherited from our worthy forefathers. To celebrate Lohri in Darbar Garh Complex(Mubarak Mandi) is significant. Mubarak Mandi is the nerve centre of Jammu’s cultural identity. Celebrating Lohri in the complex interprets the intangible aspect of the tangible heritage of Mandi Mubarak. Lohri festival needs to be made integral to the sustainable development of the complex every year , to promote tourism for this heritage complex.”

Paying rich tributes to swami Viveknanada on the National Youth Day,she said,”In the present situation when the whole nation is fighting the forces of anarchy,Swamiji’s message of nation building is national necessity to guide the youth towards the development and patriotism.”

Narotam Sharma,Corporator of Ward No.3, who was the Guest of Honour on the occasion said,”This initiative of celebrating the Lohri and national Youth day in the historic complex of Mandi Mubarak is an epoch. It is a moment of Dogra Resurgence, as the celebrations are being organized the youth of jammu is filled with a sense of pride and responsibility to showcase the heritage and culture of Jammu. It is a national message that youth of jammu are leading the march of national resurgence to uphold the civilisational Bharat in the Jammu region.”

Aparna Tandon,Project Specialist with ICCROM an international body of UN to preserve and conserve the world heritage ,who was the guest of honour on the occasion said,”celebration of local festivals with community involvement in the heritage areas is an integral part of heritage and cultural interpretation. Heritage in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed not only neglect but vandalisation due to lack of sensitization.Mubarak Mandi needs to be restored to its full glory. All the stakeholders need to join hands to restore the local heritage of jammu that has an international value in terms of cultural identity so that the tourism policies are framed keeping in view the sensitivities of heritage preservation.

Sugam Bral,Chairman,Jammu Diary said,” This collaborative initiative has a national and international landscape in mind to give Dogra culture and heritage its due place in the human consciousness.Our main focus is to educate the youth about their rich legacy and become ambassadors of Jammu. We are open to give platform to all the stakeholders and make their contribution for upholding Dogra culture with a sense of preservation so that we sustain our heritage and be proud of it.”

Dr.Mahesh Kaul,Chiarman,Himalayan Heritage Foundation said,”Jammu represents the epicenter of cultural and social renaissance in the Himalayas.Its significance in the national consciousness needs to be projected at the international level as the rich narrative of place consciousness of jammu has been lost in the din of ethno religious conflict that posed a challenge to the social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir.The evolution of Dogra culture is a progressive and comprehensive process that is based on defending the Northern frontier of India.Celebration of festivals is an expression of Sanskritisation that defines the essence of one India.
Swami Vivekanada is the icon of the Sanskrit Bharat that we have to uphold at all costs and defeat the enemies of the nation who have subverted the centres of learning from universities to polity.His message of upholding the Sanskrit civilization can be realized when we will preserve and conserve the heritage of Jammu by involving the heritage management professionals and tourism professionals.Only this synergy can restore the heritage of jammu and project Darbar Garh (Mubarak Mandi) as the model of Dogra cultural heritage renaissance.)