2007 Archives

Fazilka Heritage Festival 2007 - Mehak Sarhad Di Press Coverage

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071119/bathinda.htm#8
The Tribune
Fazilka, November 18

The second food art and cultural festival - Fazilka Heritage Festival: Mehak Sarhad Di-2007 – will be organised here from November 22 to 25 next. The festival, aimed at promoting the culture of Fazilka at international level, would be organised by the Graduate Welfare Association, Fazilka.
It will also promote Punjabiat and establish Fazilka as a brand city that in turn supports local handicraft, workers, sweet makers and is likely to generate employment opportunity through tourism in the region.
Padam Shree Pushpa Hans Nite would be one of highlights of the heritage festival.
A folk dance night to commemorate Baba Pokhar Singh, founder of Jhumar dance, Kanwar Mohinder Singh Bedi “Sahar” night, a poetical evening to commemorate renowned Urdu Poet “Sahar” of Fazilka, Live DJ performances and shows in front of Fazilka’s historical clock tower on the pattern of Jhankata Penda Gali Gali, screening of Punjabi and Hindi movies, would also be organised during the fest.
“Fauz”, a live band and special performances by the Indian Armed Forces to commemorate the saviours of Fazilka town, “Paridhan” a fashion event based on the theme “Fazilka Revisited” and Fazilka Carnival would be the other attractions during the festival.
Lectures and live show with “ArriveSafe” theme by a Chandigarh-based NGO to promote road safety wil also be displayed at the festival.

Fazilka set to pioneer use of CFL lamps

Anilesh S Mahajan TNN
Novermber, 21, 2007
Chandigarh: It may be called as the first citizen effort to turn to the compact fluorescent light (CFL) lamps and Fazilka would be the first city in Punjab to accept it. This effort has come without any government’s initiative in this regard. The NGO, Graduate Welfare Association of Fazilka (GWAF) has impressed upon all the traders in the city to not only promote CFL, but also to sell it on ‘no profit no loss’ basis during the Fazilka heritage festival starting from November 22 to 25. The theme of the festival is global warming. “Conservation of energy is an important issue for the state as well as for the nation. As citizens of the country we have to save energy, when we told this to the people here, they agreed to turn on to CFL lamps,” said Dr Bhupinder Singh, a retired professor of IIT Roorkee and founder of GWAF. “When citizens are told about the benefits it can give to them as well as to the state, they readily acquiesce to the change,” he added. Fazilka electricity parts dealers’ association chief Pradeep Ahuja added that they would be selling only CFL during the festival in the city. “We cannot offer subsidies, but this would be our initiative towards the mission,” he added. Moreover, all the leading business houses in the city have been asked to turn to CFL and they have agreed to it. Vikram Ahuja of farm solutions said that he has already changed the lamps and have asked other to do so. GWAF has a good influence over most of the citizens in the town, as most of the graduates are its members. It believes that this would set an example for the rest of the state. It is worth mentioning here that the Punjab government and Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has already turned on to CFL. In comparison to the incandescent lamp used by the domestic users, one sixth to one-fourth energy is saved. It is promoted by the PSEB and Central Electricity Commission (CEC) too.

FAZILKA'S FESTIVE MOOD

Hindustan Times : Manoj Tripathi
The Buzz, P.no-134, 24-11-2007
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=24_11_2007_134_010&typ=1&pub=722

The three-day Fazilka heritage festival started on Thursday evening to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the town. Organised by Graduates Welfare Association, Fazilka (GWAF) in association with Punjabi Sabhyacharak Manch, the opening session was inaugurated by Brig Rajiv Bhutani at Ram Press premises.
The first evening of the festival was dedicated to the renowned poet and writer of the area-Kanwan Mahinder Singh Bedi Sahar. A colourful programme studded with songs, dance and 'mushaira' marked the opening. Historical clock tower of Fazilka is also lit up delightfully.
Stalls, displaying specialties and culture of Fazilka, are set up. These include stalls of juttis, quality agricultural products produced in the Fazilka belt. Besides, meaningful exhibitions on issues such as female foeticide, environmental pollution are also on display. A stall of traditional Rajasthani food and famous pakkhis, handmade sarpo (chapatti boxes) attracted a large number of visitors.
GWAF patron Bhupinder Singh and president Umesh Chander Kukkar and secretary Navdeep Asija said that the heritage festival is being celebrated to keep the culture and heritage of the historical border town alive. They said that this festival would enable the younger generation to know the glorious history of the town.

साइंटिस्ट ने किया अनूठा प्रयोग

http://www.bhaskar.com/2007/11/17/0711170720_iit_man.html#

गुलशन कुमार.
Saturday, November 17, 2007 07:18 [IST]

चंडीगढ़ राजधानी से 325 किलोमीटर दूर पंजाब के एक छोटे से शहर फाजिल्का के लोगों ने अपने ही दम पर हेरिटेज फेस्टिवल की अनूठी पहल की है। साइबर हाईवे पर इस फेस्टिवल ने विदेशी टूरिस्ट्स को भी आकर्षित किया है। एक आईआईटी साइंटिस्ट की देखरेख में चल रही इस मुहिम में शहर भर के नौजवान जुटे हुए हैं।
अमृतसर, पटियाला, फरीदकोट आदि में तो पांच साल पहले सरकारी खर्च पर विरासत मेले शुरू हुए, लेकिन फाजिल्का शहर के नौजवानों ने खुद ही फाजिल्का हेरिटेज फेस्टिवल ‘महक सरहद दी’ का आयोजन करने की ठान ली। 22 से 24 नवंबर तक होने वाले इस फेस्टिवल में फाजिल्का से जुड़े लोग दुनिया भर से अपने शहर पहुंच रहे हैं। आईआईटी में कार्यरत नवदीप असीजा नवदीप की देखरेख में गठित ग्रेजुएट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन, फाजिल्का ने इस पूरे आयोजन की जिम्मेवारी संभाली हुई है। फेस्टिवल में गीत-संगीत से लेकर कला के विभिन्न क्षेत्रों को शामिल किया गया है।
गीत-संगीत की महक : फेस्टिवल में पद्मश्री पुष्पा हंस नाइट, फोक डांस नाइट, छनकाटा पैंदा गली-गली आदि आयोजनों में गीत-संगीत की महक बिखेरी जाएगी। पैनोरमा सेक्शन में हिंदी-पंजाबी की चुनिंदा फिल्में भी दिखाई जाएंगी। भारतीय सेना का बैंड अलग से प्रस्तुति देगा। नाटकों का भी मंचन और फाजिल्का कार्निवाल परेड भी आयोजित होगा।

कार फ्री जोन होगा शहर :
शहर को उन दिनों कार फ्री जोन रखा जाएगा और लोगों को पैदल या साइकिल से ही चलने के लिए प्रेरित किया जाएगा। फेस्टिवल के दौरान पॉलिथीन बैग्स पर पाबंदी रहेगी। फाजिल्का रतन अवार्ड भी दिए जाएंगे। नवदीप ने बताया कि वर्ल्ड कार फ्री नेटवर्क, चैक रिपब्लिक अपनी मैगजीन कार फ्री नेटवर्कर्स ने ताजा अंक में फाजिल्का पर विशेष आर्टीकल भी प्रकाशित किया है।
भारत-पाकिस्तान सीमा से महज 11 किलोमीटर पीछे स्थित फाजिल्का का इतिहास करीब 169 साल पुराना है। इस फेस्टिवल से फाजिल्का की एक अलग पहचान बनेगी। —नवदीप असीजा

Fazilka Heritage Fest a hit

Hindustan Times : Manoj Tripathi
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=26_11_2007_134_006&typ=1&pub=722
The three-day Fazilka Heritage Festival concluded here on Saturday evening with an overwhelming participation from the local residents.
Baba Pokhar Dass Nite was organised the last day to remember the noted Jhumar dance artiste of Fazilka. Artistes from different schools, dance club including GMP Fire Group, Zindva Group, Arniwla, Godwin Public School, Ghallu and others took part in the event.
Jawans of Infantry Brigade took out a bicycle rally against air pollution. GWAF members, Punjabi Sab hyacharak Manch, Army Wives Welfare Association and residents of Fazilka pledged to protect the environment by minimising the use of polythene bags, planting trees and creating a green belt.
A replica of the famous clock tower of Fazilka enclosed in a glass box was auctioned to raise funds for next year's Fazilka Heritage Festival. Vansh Chuchra, an artist's family, offered the highest bid of Rs 18,000 for the tower's model.
The festival's patron Dr Bhupinder Singh and secretary Navdeep Asija said the festival would be celebrated for one whole week next year onwards.

Fazilka Heritage Fest concludes

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071126/bathinda.htm#5
The Tribune
Fazilka, November 25

On the concluding day of Fazilka Heritage Festival, hundreds of youths pledged to ensure reduction in environment pollution. The motive was to create awareness about the detrimental affects of increasing environment pollution and risks of the phenomenon called global warming.
It was also an endeavour to promote use of bicycles to save fuel and save the environment by growing more plants. The youths also vowed to minimise the use of polythene bags.
Members of the Graduates Welfare Association, Fazilka (GWAF), the Students for Society Organisation, Fazilka, the Punjab Sabhyacharak Manch, Fazilka and the Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army jointly organised a cycle rally through the main markets in an endeavour to motivate people to ride bicycles as far as possible instead of using vehicles run on petrol or diesel.
Third and the last day of the festival was observed as “Baba Pokhar Dass Nite”. On the occasion, over 20 teams presented Punjabi folk dances, including Bhangra, Gidha and Jhumar.
The novel attraction at the programme was the auction of a replica of Fazilka’s famous clock tower.
The organisers said the amount received from the auction would be utilised for next year celebrations.
Fazilka Heritage Festival patron Dr Bhupinder Singh, secretary Navdeep Asija said considering the success of the festival in which thousands from the city and the surrounding areas had participated, it has been decided that next year, the festival would be celebrated for one week.
The festival had concluded around midnight.

Note: We have published only few of the Press Coverages on our website. There were many other of them.