Recently, the Directorate of Tourism Jammu and the District Administration Rajouri joined forces to host the Nowshera Folk Festival at Boys Higher Secondary School in Nowshera. The event was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Vikas Kundal and DDC Chairman Naseem Liaquat Choudhury, and featured traditional Dogri, Gojri, and Pahari dances performed by local artists.
Nowshera, an offbeat tourist destination in the Jammu and Kashmir region, is known for its beautiful mountain views and rich cultural heritage. The folk festival was well-attended and received positive feedback from tourists and performers alike. Disksa, an artist at the event, said, “I came here for the first time. It is a very good spot. Mountains and mountains are everywhere. We perform at every stage to keep our culture alive.”
In addition to the dance performances, the Tourism Department also organized a heritage tour bus that took bloggers and local travel enthusiasts on a journey through some of Nowshera’s most popular landmarks, including Mangla Mata, Brigadier Usman War Memorial, Khambah Fort, Khori Baba Shrine, and the Thakurdwara Temple.
Assistant Director of Tourism Rajouri, Ambika Bali, stated that the department is committed to organizing events in offbeat tourist destinations like Nowshera and Sunderbani, and will continue to promote homestays in the area. “We continuously try to hold such events in Border Circuit, Peer ki Gali and other potential tourist areas in Jammu region. since it is a long weekend, we have also scheduled a festival in Patnitop,” Bali said.
Deputy Director of Tourism Jammu Abdul Jabbar added that the department plans to hold more events in the Pir Panjal area, which has a lot of untapped tourism potential. “Such events in rural areas are helpful in connecting people with the tourism department and are important initiatives under ‘Prashan Gaon ki Aur’ and ‘Good Governance initiatives’,” Jabbar said.
The Nowshera Folk Festival was attended by members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) from Nowshera, Seri, Lamberi, Qila Darhal, and surrounding areas. Deputy Commissioner Rajouri emphasized the importance of promoting offbeat tourist destinations in the Rajouri District and praised the efforts of the Tourism Department in organizing the event.