J-K to host winter festival of music, adventure sports

Srinagar: The 2012 Winter Festival at Gulmarg, a hill station in Jammu and Kashmir, will give adventure sports lovers and those interested in knowing Kashmiri tradition an opportunity to get a glimpse of the Valley`s culture. The three-day festival, from March 9 to March 11, jointly organised by state Tourism department in collaboration with a private company, will give a platform to local artists, craftsmen and the folklore to blend with some of the best bands, photographers, artists, film makers and tourists from all over the world, the organisers of the festival said today. "We will also be encouraging all to keep Gulmarg clean and green. This one of its kind festival in Gulmarg is all set to carve a niche for itself. The festival is a `No Drug` policy festival," a statement issued by Soul Curators and Synapses Adventures, the co-organisers, said. The highlights of the festival will be adventure sports like snowboarding, skiing, zorbing and paintball. "The festival will be a doorway to the lively and sparkling Kashmiri culture. Complete with its share of history, folk lore, art, handicraft, generous hospitality and the delicious mouth-watering Kashmiri cuisine of Wazwan and Kashmiri Chai," the statement said. The festival would also feature line up of artists, covering a range of eclectic music genres across the world, it said. Ranging from Classical, Folk, Sufi, Jazz, Jams, Collaborations, Blues, Rock, Indie bands and Fusion, it will showcase some of the best and upcoming talents across the country while also offering local artists an opportune stage, the statement added. Some of the reputed names expected to perform at the festival include Raghu Dixit, Rishi Inc. and Hashback Hashish, it said. PTI