Chandigarh to have week-long celebrations of Tourism Day

CHANDIGARH - Chandigarh will celebrate World Tourism Day with a week-long programme from Sep 26 that will include theatre, food festivals, cycling events and a tourism walk, an official said Saturday.

World Tourism Day falls Sep 27. But the Chandigarh administration has decided to celebrate it from Sep 26 to Oct 1 and planned myriad of events to ensure participation of the city dwellers.

“There would be week-long celebration to highlight the importance of tourism. Celebrations will begin with a ‘cyclothon’, a cycling event, which will be organised under the aegis of the Cycling Federation of India,” Home Secretary Ram Niwas said here.

He said, cyclothon comprises different categories; elite ride, green ride and junior ride. There would be a 60-km national elite race and top cyclists of the country are expected to participate.

“We have planned many events throughout the week at prominent tourists’ destinations of this city to entertain both domestic and foreign tourists. There would be painting competition, “morning raga” - Indian classical and fusion music and fun programmes at Sukhna Lake and a tourism walk,” stated Niwas.

He added, “Many award-winning plays, starring acclaimed artists will be staged at the Tagore Theatre during the week. Tourism quiz will be organised for the city residents. The one-week celebrations will conclude with a live performance by Bollywood-fame singer Javed and a musical evening at Sector 17 on Oct 1.”

Competitions like singing, dancing, rock band live performances and other cultural evenings will be held at Sukhna Lake, which is the most sought after tourist destination here.

Besides, food festivals will be organised at various hotel and restaurants, which will start during the tourism week celebrations and continue till the end of Commonwealth Games.