SRINAGAR: As countdown has begun for the highly anticipated three day “Vitasta Cultural Festival” scheduled to take place from June 23rd to 25th at SKICC in Srinagar, the captivating pre-events featuring mesmerising performances by talented folk artists are continuing to enchant the audience at multiple locations across the Valley.
On Tuesday, several bewitching cultural events unfolded across various prominent locations in the city including Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothi Bagh; Government College of Education (IASE) and picturesque riverfront of Jhelum, also known as Vitasta.
Men and women, including students, flocked to these locations, eager to witness the enchanting performances by the talented folk artists. The programmes included traditional dances, soulful songs and engaging folk dramas such as Bhand Pather, Dhambali, Bach Nagma, Kharjat, Rauf, Doda Kud, Dogri, Haran and more. With their captivating performances, the artists skillfully left audiences deeply mesmerised.
It is worth mentioning that the grand festival, an initiative of the Union Ministry of Culture and organised through the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, aims to bring to life Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ (One India, Great India) under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative.
The prestigious event, anticipated to be graced by dignitaries from Jammu and Kashmir as well as other regions, would serve as a remarkable platform to celebrate and exhibit the diverse cultural and traditional heritage forms, including music, singing, dances, handicrafts, and cuisine, unique to Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the organisers have announced that the pre-events will continue tomorrow, Wednesday, at various locations across Srinagar. The anticipated events scheduled for Wednesday will be organised at Girls Higher Secondary School in Shalimar, Girls Higher Secondary School in Nishat, school auditorium of Girls Higher Secondary School in Raj Bagh and College Ground of Women’s College in Srinagar.
Additionally, a calligraphy camp began here today at Bemina Government College in Srinagar. The camp, being conducted from June 21 to June 25, has been thoughtfully designed with the intention of nurturing the art of calligraphy and celebrating the rich heritage of diverse writing styles.

KR Desk