Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami celebrates folk culture and book release at Jagar Lok Sanskriti Utsav

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], September 3 (ANI): Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami celebrates folk culture and book release at Jagar Lok Sanskriti Utsav, on Tuesday.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister released the book "Uttarakhand ka Lok Putra Pritam Bharatwan," written by Sachidanand Semwal, and hailed him as the brand ambassador of Uttarakhand's folk culture.
He remarked that Padmashree Pritam Bharatwan has played a pivotal role in bringing the sacred folk traditions and culture of Devbhoomi to the global stage. The Chief Minister described events like these as a celebration of the state's ancient and rich folk culture, noting that Jagar is also considered a medium for invoking deities in Uttarakhand's cultural heritage.
The Chief Minister lauded Pritam Bharatwan's efforts to engage the youth with this genre through the Jagar Academy. He stated that Jagar and Dhol Vadan are integral to our cultural identity, connecting us deeply with our heritage. He further emphasised that the younger generation is working to preserve and pass on this rich folk culture from one generation to the next.
The CM highlighted that the state government is consistently striving to nurture and promote the folk art and culture of Uttarakhand. He mentioned that a tradition of honouring emerging talented writers and artists has been initiated.
"Support is being provided by identifying and encouraging folk artists. During the Corona period, financial assistance was extended to 3,200 folk artists. Folk artists above 60 years of age are being granted a monthly pension of Rs 3,000. Additionally, efforts are underway to restore traditional fairs to their original form and to provide better platforms for artists. Initiatives are also being taken to gain recognition for the Jagar singing style, as well as for the preservation and publication of scripts related to folk art and culture through the Guru-Shishya tradition and art galleries," he said.
The Chief Minister also praised the efforts of the book's author, Sachidanand Semwal, stating that his work would help bring Pritam Bharatwan's contributions to a wider audience. (ANI)