ZT News Network
Srinagar: The International Mountain Day- 2020 was celebrated with great fervor by the Adventure lovers in Kashmir Valley with the main function organized by the Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir at TRC, Srinagar.
Hundreds of Adventure lovers, boys and girls participated in the Seminar organized by the Directorate of Tourism Kashmir at TRC Hall, Srinagar. During the seminar, various short films were screened to showcase the potential of adventure tourism in the valley.
Aparna Kumar (IPS) was the chief guest on the occasion. Born in 1974, Aparna Kumar is an IPS Officer of 2002 batch of Uttar Pradesh Cadre. She is a proud recipient of the prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2018 for her outstanding mountaineering achievements, presented to her by the President of India.
On the occasion, Aparna Kumar said Kashmir is blessed with majestic mountains which makes it one of the top destinations for mountain based adventure activities. She also spoke about her journey with mountaineering. She said a strong resolve, focus and commitment is needed to achieve the unthinkable and keep on going forward despite failures to reach your goals.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Tourism, Nisar Ahmad Wani highlighted the Mountain Biodiversity of Kashmir and the various forms of Tourism activities associated with Mountains. Wani said the department has been conducting various mountain based sports and nature activities to promote adventure sports among local youth.
He said besides other tourism products, adventure tourism in Kashmir has immense potential for which the department has been promoting it outside JK through print and electronic media, social media besides participating in travel trade meets. On the occasion, he also assured full support to local associations and youth in the promotion of eco-friendly mountain based activities.
Director Industries and Commerce, Kashmir and President JKMHC Mehmood Ahmad Shah also highlighted mountain biodiversity the Valley is blessed with besides outlining JK Mountaineering and Hiking Activities. He said the Club has been very successful in organizing Sunday treks in which local boys and girls are participating with an overwhelming response.
Arjimand Hussain Talib, founder of Ziraat Times, speaking on the occasion said that as much as the day provided an opportunity of celebration of mountain bio-diversity, it was also a moment of stock taking and setting an agenda of action for bio diversity preservation and promotion of sustainable and responsible tourism in Kashmir.
“It is heartening to see this event creating an environment of optimism after a distressing pandemic time, which has hit Kashmir’s tourism industry very badly”, Mr Arjimand said, adding, “When it comes to inspiration for preservation of mountain ecology, the teachings of Hazrat Sheikhul Alam, whom we also lovingly call Nund Reshi, mainly his message in Ann Poshe Tells Yele Want Poshe (Food would last as long as forests/mountain eco systems would last) are enough for us to show us the way”.
He exhorted for joint efforts to make the International Mountain Day of 2021 embrace Ann Poshe Tells Yele Want Poshe as its theme. He also called for a multi-agency action plan for bio-diversity conservation and climate mitigation in Kashmir.
Prof Dr. Kundangar, Dr. Mehreen Khalil, President ATOAK and Rauf Tramboo also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the importance of preserving mountain biodiversity.
Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir also conferred posthumously, Lifetime Achievement Award, to Late Mohammad Ashraf Batkoo in recognition of his outstanding contribution in promoting mountaineering and adventure tourism in Jammu & Kashmir.
During the function, the award of excellence was, posthumously, presented to Late Fhzal Fayaz Wani for promoting Extreme Mountain Biking in Jammu and Kashmir and Late Bashir Ahmad Damna for promoting adventure sports, especially Mountain Biking and Cycling in Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier in the morning Aparna Kumar and Director Tourism Kashmir flagged off Mountain Biking in which around 40 peddlers including young boys participated. Also around 30 Girls and 25 Boys participated in the Sport climbing competition held at the Artificial Climbing Wall, Nowgam.
International Mountain Day was celebrated with fervor in Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam. On Saturday, Snow Cycling Slalom at Gulmarg, Ski Mountaineering at Kongdori will also be held as part of the International Mountain Day Celebration. The programmes were organized by Directorate of Tourism Kashmir in association with J&K Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) | Jammu and Kashmir Mountaineering and Hiking Club (JKMHC) | Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir (ATOAK) | Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering (JIM) | JK Mountain Biking Association (JK MBA) | Jammu and Kashmir Ski Mountaineering Association (JK SMA). Besides large number of adventure enthusiasts, the representatives from travel trade also participated in the function—(KNO)