Lko fest: Chopper ride to wow visitors

Organic food court, celebrity performances and handicraft stalls other major attractions

LUCKNOW : For residents of the city, particularly youngsters, Lucknow Mahotsav has always been a big draw, a one-stop destination for shopping, savouring delicacies, watching celebrity performances and hanging out with friends and family.

This time, the extravaganza will be held from January 17 to 23. But though the ten-day winter carnival has been shortened to 7 days, the USP is a helicopter ride!

The state tourism corporation will offer a chopper ride to the common people, for which bidding has been inviting and the service provider firm will be shortlisted on January 7.

Divisional commissioner Mukesh Meshram said, “This is for the first time helicopter ride will be offered. The process has begun for the short listing of the service provider.” He said UP State Tourism Development Corporation will offer the facility.

Corporation MD Shiv Pal Singh said, “Bidding has been invited for the service providers and the charges will also be finalized after January 7.” He said this was for the first time the Lucknow Mahotsav would have this facility. Earlier people were offered this service in Kumbh by the corporation.

Lucknow Mahotsav is organized every year to showcase the state’s art and culture to promote tourism.

An official said the evenings would be studded with celebrity performances,including renowned classical singers.

Upcoming local artists would be given special representation in the cultural evenings.

National and local Hindi and

Urdu poets would grace the Kavi Sammelan and Mushaira.

Among other products, Persian, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Japanese and Turkish handicraft will be on display at the stalls.

An organic food court would also be an attraction at the venue this time. Besides, there would be traditional events like kite-flying contest, vintage car rally, theatre fest and youth fest. Sufi night, Bhojpuri night, Punjabi night, ghazal night, comedy night and Bollywood night would also be organised during the fest. Other attractions would include a khadi fashion show, an ‘auto expo zone’, ‘Live FM Studio’ and ‘shadow act’. More than 650 commercial stalls, 450 handicraft stalls, 71 pavillions, 20 kiosks and 45 food stalls would be set up at the venue, said a district administration official.