Kupwara, Jan 11: Following the grand success of the Lolab Winter Festival in Devar Lolab, the demand for a similar winter carnival in Bangus has gained momentum, with locals and visitors alike calling for the organising of the “Bangus Winter Carnival”.
The Lolab Winter Festival, held on Saturday, attracted thousands of visitors from both local and outside areas. The event, which celebrated the beauty and vibrant culture of Lolab Valley, showcased the Lolab’s winter charm with various activities such as traditional music, snow volleyball, skiing, folk performances, local handicraft displays, nature walks and local culinary delights.
Speaking to the media persons, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan said, “The aim of the Lolab Winter Festival was to highlight the tourism potential of Lolab Valley. We are grateful to the stakeholders, including line departments, the army, police and public representatives for making this event a huge success.”
While the celebration in Lolab was a resounding success, the residents of Hanwara and Kupwara have started advocating for a similar event to be organized in Bangus. Located in the north of Kupwara, Bangus is well known for its snow-covered meadows and is already a popular spot in summer, but many believe it holds even greater potential as a winter destination.
“Bangus is already famous for its natural beauty. It just needs a little push during the winter months to become a major tourist destination,” said Farooq Ahmad, a local. He said organising a winter festival in Bangus would boost both tourism and the local economy.
Naseer Ahmad from Mawer said Bangus is accessible and covered with snow throughout the winter. “We are hopeful that the authorities will organize a festival here soon to make it a winter tourism hotspot,” he added.
With increasing demand for a Bangus Winter Carnival, the call to develop the area as a winter destination continues to grow, promising great benefits for both tourism and local residents.
