Jammu tourism department organizes vibrant Gool Mela in Ramban
RAMBAN, JUNE 7 — In a vibrant celebration of culture, heritage, and tourism, the Directorate of Tourism Jammu, in collaboration with the Ramban district administration, organized a one-day Gool Mela at the picturesque Narsingha area amidst the lush green meadows of the Gool Sub-Division.
The cultural festival witnessed an overwhelming response, with more than ten thousand people thronging the venue from across the Ramban and Reasi districts. The event transformed the scenic destination into a vibrant hub of cultural festivities, attracting tourists, locals, youth, and families alike.The festival was inaugurated by MLA Banihal Sajjad Shaheen, along with MLA Gulabgarh Khurshid Ahmad, Director Tourism Jammu Vikas Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan, and SSP Ramban Arun Gupta.
Organized to promote the immense tourism potential of the region, the mela served as a platform to showcase the rich cultural diversity, traditional heritage, and breathtaking natural beauty of Gool and its adjoining areas while highlighting the region’s potential as an emerging tourist destination. Shaheen highlighted the vast tourism potential of the Gool and Banihal areas, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to develop the region into a major tourist destination while lauding the efforts of the tourism department.
Director Tourism Jammu Vikas Gupta highlighted the promotional initiatives being undertaken by the tourism department under the leadership of the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that on the directions of Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Ashish Chander Verma, the department is actively identifying and developing new tourist destinations across Jammu, especially offbeat locations like Gool, Neeltop, Margantop, Mohu Valley, and Tattapani, to diversify tourism offerings and generate sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities. Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan also highlighted the growing tourism prospects of the district and called upon the youth to actively contribute toward promoting tourism, preserving the environment, and joining hands with the administration to make Ramban a drug-free district under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan.
SSP Arun Gupta reiterated the commitment of the police department toward achieving this drug-free vision through community participation.A major attraction of the mela was the array of stalls established by various government departments, local entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and artisans. Vibrant displays of local handicrafts, handloom products, and traditional artifacts drew significant public interest and highlighted the craftsmanship of the region.
Food stalls offering authentic local delicacies and traditional cuisines remained crowded throughout the day, providing visitors with a glimpse of the rich culinary heritage of the area and promoting rural livelihoods. The dignitaries visited these stalls to interact with exhibitors and appreciate the promotion of indigenous crafts.The cultural segment remained the core attraction of the event, featuring renowned singers Bishan Dass and Chaman Lehri, alongside other artists and students who enthralled the audience with vibrant performances depicting the rich folk traditions and music of Jammu and Kashmir.
The general public extended gratitude to the administration for organizing the event, which concluded with the felicitation of artists and performers. The program was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Varunjeet Singh Charak, Joint Director Tourism Aijaz Qaiser, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Shoket Hayat Mattoo, and several other district officers, reinforcing the commitment of the tourism department toward promoting inclusive and sustainable tourism in offbeat destinations.