Mandi Municipal Corporation to Host Grand ‘Mandav Utsav’ from November 5: Mayor Virender Bhatt Announces Full Schedule.
Shimla:
Following the historic Shivratri Mahotsav, Mandi town is set to witness another major cultural celebration — the Mandav Utsav — to be held at the iconic Paddal Ground from November 5 to November 9 in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. Mayor Virender Bhatt of Mandi Municipal Corporation announced the festival schedule and detailed preparations during a press conference, confirming that all arrangements for the event have been completed.
Inauguration and Rituals
The Mandav Utsav will commence on November 5 with the traditional Mandav Shila Poojan, marking the auspicious beginning of the celebrations. The rituals will start at 9:00 AM, followed by the Raj Madhav Rai Pooja at 10:00 AM and Baba Bhootnath Ji Pooja at 10:15 AM. The sacred Shobha Yatra (grand procession) will begin at 10:30 AM, starting from the Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School, passing through Samkhetar, Baba Bhootnath Temple, Seri Manch, Mahamrityunjay Temple, and concluding at Paddal Ground (Chhota Maidan).
Cultural Evenings and Programs
Every evening during the festival will feature vibrant cultural performances at the Paddal Ground, showcasing Himachal’s rich folk traditions along with performances by renowned artists and local talent.
The detailed schedule is as follows:
November 5: Inaugural Evening — Popular Himachali folk singer ‘Naati King’ Kuldeep Sharma will headline the cultural night.
November 6: Performances by school students, local artists, and main artist Devvrat Pandit.
November 7: Cultural presentations by school children and main artist Mamta Bhardwaj.
November 8: Local artists and folk legend Kaku Ram Thakur will entertain the audience.
November 9: The final day will feature school and local performances followed by Gaurav Kaushal (Voice of Punjab fame) as the main performer.
Cultural and Community Spirit
Mayor Bhatt highlighted that Mandi, known as the Taposthali (meditation site) of Rishi Mandavya, derives its name from the great sage. He emphasized that the festival aims to preserve and promote the region’s folk culture and traditions. The Municipal Corporation has appealed for cooperation and participation from religious organizations, social groups, women’s collectives, schools, and the general public.
During the announcement, Municipal Commissioner Rohit Rathour, Additional Commissioner Vijay Kumar, and Councillors Hardeep Singh, Krishan Bhanu, and Sanjay Sharma were also present.
Mayor Bhatt urged citizens to attend in large numbers and make the Mandav Utsav a grand success, celebrating Mandi’s cultural legacy with enthusiasm and pride.
