Sikkim Winter Carnival begins

GANGTOK, 22 Dec [IPR]:  The three-day Sikkim Winter Carnival 2013 started today at White Memorial Hall with the inauguration of the Buddhist Art of Butter Sculpture and Sand Mandala presented by Tourism and Civil Aviation Department along with the Photo Exhibition presented by Information and Public Relations Department.
Governor of Sikkim, Shriniwas Patil inaugurated the Carnival in the presence of the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Chamling. The Carnival has been organized by the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Government of Sikkim in order to promote tourism.
The inauguration ceremony also included the inauguration of the exhibition at the Directorate of Handlooms and Handicrafts, Zero Point followed by a visit of the exhibition, sales emporium and live demonstration by the Governor, Chief Minister and other dignitaries.
At MG Marg, Gangtok the Governor of Sikkim declared the Sikkim Winter Carnival 2013 open. Earlier, the dignitaries also visited the different stalls at Titanic Park.
While presenting the welcome address, Secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Chewang Zangpo Bhutia informed that the three-day carnival will showcase ethnic culture coupled with peace and tranquility of the state. He also sought support from the public to make Sikkim a must-visit destination. The Secretary informed that the three-day event will be webcast live by the I.T. Department.
The Governor and Chief Minister visited the photo exhibition put up by Imago Creative Studio, titled ‘Glimpses of Sikkim’ in front of Star Hall, and then proceeded to Kanchenjunga Shopping Complex where traditional food and artifact stalls were laid out by various communities and associations of Sikkim.