Ganj carnival to be halted due to metro construction work
LUCKNOW:The Ganj carnival, which has been a regular monthly feature in Hazratganj, may have to be stopped for a while because of the ongoing metro rail construction there.
The carnival - a brainchild of CM Akhilesh Yadav and former district magistrate Raj Shekhar for the promotion of art, culture and tourism in the state capital will have to suffer because of the construction work and the resulting traffic diversions.
However, the new DM, SK Singh, is keen on continuing the carnival at a different spot. The place is yet to be identified. Till then, Lucknowites may have to miss the dazzling performances of Bollywood stars, delicious food, photo exhibitions, selfie zone, WWE-style wrestling, art gallery, street plays, band performances, flash mobs, kid’s zone and a lot more entertaining features that came packed with the carnival.
“It is a good event and must go on, however it would be difficult to organise it at the same place but alternative venues can be searched. Presently, with the metro work and traffic diversions, it would a bit difficult for the district administration to hold the event at the same place,” said the DM. There might be a number of parks, markets, monuments, public buildings which the Lucknowites visit on Sundays but the Ganj carnival on the second Sunday became a must for many, said Kishan Chand Bhambwani, president of Hazratganj traders association.
According to Bhambwani, “Hazratganj is not just a market, but a continuation of city’s rich heritage and culture and events like Ganj carnival inject a new spirit in the 200 year old market.”