Chief Minister inaugurates the grand ‘Ratnawali Mahotsav’ — the Maha Kumbh of Haryana’s Folk Culture

Ratnawali Mahotsav serves as an inspiring platform to preserve Haryana’s folk culture, art, and traditions – Chief Minister

Around 3,500 young artists to participate and showcase their talent in 34 art forms

Government aims to establish Haryana not only as a hub of agricultural and industrial growth but also as a centre of cultural heritage

Chandigarh, October 28- The state-level Ratnawali Mahotsav, which preserves Haryana’s rich folk culture and artistic traditions, was inaugurated with grandeur on Tuesday at Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra. Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and formally inaugurated the Mahotsav by lighting the traditional lamp.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that this Mahotsav reflects the glorious heritage of Haryana and the vibrant glimpse of rural life. It not only provides students an opportunity to enhance their talent but also instills in them a deep sense of pride in their cultural identity. He added that Ratnawali Mahotsav is not merely a cultural event but an inspiring platform to reconnect with our roots and identity.

During the programme, Chief Minister and Heritage & Tourism Minister, Dr. Arvind Sharma felicitated Padma Shri Sant Ram Deshwal and Sh. Anoop Lather for their outstanding contributions in the field of art and culture. The dignitaries also released the ‘Ratnawali Times’ magazine, published in the Haryanvi dialect.

In his address, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said he is delighted to be among energetic youth. It is heartening to see the younger generation remain deeply connected to India’s culture and traditions, he said. He remarked that Ratnawali Mahotsav acts as a bridge linking the youth to their roots. It is a remarkable effort to preserve, protect, and pass on our cultural heritage to future generations, he said.

Referring to Lord Krishna’s message of Karma Yoga, the Chief Minister stated that Haryana’s culture is imbued with simplicity, self-respect, and patriotism and Ratnawali Mahotsav celebrates these very values. The artists emerging from this platform not only bring glory to the state but also make the nation proud at the international level, said the Chief Minister.

Youth should remain connected with education as well as with their culture and heritage-CM

The Chief Minister emphasized that the youth are the future torchbearers of the state and the custodians of culture. It is encouraging to see their enthusiasm and awareness towards their heritage. Education imparts knowledge and skills, he said, but culture gives us values and identity, he said.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini further said that the traditional attire, folk dances, songs, Haryanvi Saang and Ragini, and even the huts displayed here are not mere exhibits but invaluable treasures of our ancestors. He urged the youth to stay connected with both education and their cultural heritage.

The Chief Minister said that Kurukshetra University is the oldest university in Haryana. Although the state was formed in 1966, the university was established in 1956 by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. This university has played a vital role in Haryana’s educational, economic, and social development, he said.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that Haryana today stands as a leading state in education, sports, culture, research, and industry, and Kurukshetra University has significantly contributed to this reputation. It ranks among the premier institutions in India for education, research, skill development, sports, arts, and culture, he said.

The Chief Minister said that artists who dedicate their lives to preserving Haryana’s ancient art and culture are honoured with the ‘Haryana Ratna Award’. Similarly, those who have contributed immensely to Haryanvi theatre and dance also receive this prestigious award annually, he said.

Ratnawali Mahotsav – The Grand Confluence of Haryanvi Culture

The Chief Minister said that the Ratnawali Mahotsav has been organized at Kurukshetra University for the past 38 years, playing a vital role in Haryana’s cultural journey. This Mahotsav is regarded as the ‘Maha Kumbh of Haryanvi Culture’, featuring approximately 3,500 young artists showcasing their talents in 34 different folk art forms representing diverse dialects like Ahir, Bangar, Bagar, Khadar, and Mewati. He congratulated and extended his best wishes to all the participating students.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that every year new creative efforts are made to engage the youth. In previous editions, competitions like “Pagri Bandhao, Photo Khinchwao” and “Selfie with Haryanvi” were organized to revive regional traditions. This year, the festival includes a presentation of ‘Loor Nritya’, a nearly extinct folk dance form of Haryana, as well as a Haryanvi Fashion Show that has become a major attraction. Competitions such as ‘Haryana Ki Sangeet Yatra’, ‘Haryana Food Fair’ , ‘Haryana Art Fair’, and ‘Sun Gita Ka Gyaan’ are expected to become the defining features of this Mahotsav in the coming years.

Government aims to establish Haryana as a centre of cultural heritage along with agricultural and industrial growth

The Chief Minister said that the government aims to build a strong bridge between education and culture. He noted that culture and tourism complement each other when we respect and promote our cultural heritage, we also attract tourists from across the world. With places like Kurukshetra, Karnal, and Panchkula, Haryana has immense potential for cultural tourism. The government’s vision is to make Haryana a hub not only for agriculture and industry but also for cultural heritage, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

He added that the state government organizes various programmes and Melas for local artists with the Gita Mahotsav and Surajkund Crafts Mela already world-renowned. Such events provide folk artists with opportunities to showcase and refine their art before global audiences. He urged everyone to collectively preserve their culture, take pride in their art, learn it, and pass it on to others.

Ratnawali – A platform for learning, not competition

Encouraging all participants, the Chief Minister said that Ratnawali is not a platform for competition but for learning and gaining experience. Every participant here is a winner, as they express their devotion and love for their culture. He expressed hope that this festival will become even grander and more impactful in the years to come. “Together, let us strengthen Haryana’s unique cultural identity,” he said.

Ratnawali Mahotsav has grown into a magnificent tradition – Vice Chancellor Prof. Somnath Sachdeva

Welcoming the Chief Minister, Kurukshetra University Vice Chancellor Prof. Somnath Sachdeva said that Ratnawali began in 1985 as part of Haryana Day celebrations with just 8–10 art forms. Today, it has expanded immensely, with 3,500 participants this year. What started as a small sapling has now grown into a vast banyan tree. Ratnawali has played a crucial role in preserving and promoting Haryana’s culture. This year, the university has resolved to promote Haryana’s traditional folk art Sanjhi across the country.

Former Minister, Sh. Subhash Sudha, Chairman, Sh. Dharmveer Mirzapur, Vice Chairman, Haryana Sarasvati Heritage Development Board, Sh. Dhuman Singh Kirmach, and several other dignitaries were present on this occasion.

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CM Nayab Singh Saini Inspects Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra in Kurukshetra, Issues Necessary Directions to Officers

Jyotisar being developed as the world’s most magnificent historical site: CM

CM directs officials to expedite completion of Jyotisar development works

Chandigarh, October 28 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, the country’s cultural heritage has been strengthened. To preserve this legacy, a project based on the Mahabharata theme is being developed at Jyotisar. Under this initiative, Gita Sthali Jyotisar is being developed from a tourism perspective to make it the world’s most magnificent historical site.

The Chief Minister was inspecting the Anubhav Kendra located at Jyotisar Tirth in Kurukshetra district on Tuesday. On this occasion, Heritage and Tourism Minister Dr. Arvind Sharma, Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Maharaj, and Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi were also present.

The Chief Minister closely inspected various sections of the Kendra, including the Reception Hall, Mahakavya Creation Room, Ancient Mahabharata, Kuru Lineage, Gita Shlokas, Lord Krishna’s Role, Dashavatar, and others, and gave necessary directions to the officers. He said that tourists from India and abroad will be able to witness the living history of Kurukshetra at the Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra.

During the visit, Principal Secretary of the Heritage and Tourism Department, Smt. Kala Ramachandran, apprised the Chief Minister in detail about the features of the Anubhav Kendra through a PPT presentation. The Chief Minister directed that all development works should be completed at the earliest so that tourists visiting here can witness the history of the Mahabharata and Kurukshetra.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that Lord Shree Krishna delivered the sermon of the Gita from the sacred land of Kurukshetra. Keeping in mind the glorious history of this sacred land, the government is accelerating development works at Jyotisar. Therefore, concerned officers should ensure that the development works are completed within the stipulated time frame.

On this occasion, former Minister Sh. Subhash Sudha, Commissioner and Secretary of the Information, Public Relations, Languages & Culture Department Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal, Director General Sh. K. Makarand Pandurang, Director of Tourism Department Dr. Shaleen, Deputy Commissioner Sh. Vishram Kumar Meena, Honorary Secretary of KDB Upender Singhal, Chairman Madan Mohan Chhabra, and others were present.

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Providing health facilities near people’s homes priority of government: Arti Singh Rao

Approval granted to open a Primary Health Centre in Dulheri village and Sub Health Centre in Khilluka village

Chandigarh, October 28 – Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao said the state government is committed to providing health facilities to people near their homes. Along with cities and towns, new health centres are being opened in rural areas as well, and several health institutions are being upgraded in view of the growing population.

Arti Singh Rao shared this information while listening to the grievances of people who met her at her office in Chandigarh today.

She informed that, on the demand of villagers, approval has been granted to upgrade the existing Sub Health Centre in Dulheri village of Bhiwani district into a Primary Health Centre. The process for the appointment of a medical officer and other staff will be initiated soon.

The Health Minister further stated that approval has also been given to open a Sub Health Centre in village Khilluka of Palwal district, and instructions have been issued to start the recruitment process for staff there as well.

She said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the state government is continuously striving to provide affordable and accessible medical services to the people of the state. The Health Department is procuring essential medicines and equipment to ensure that citizens receive treatment at a reasonable cost.

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CISF officially takes over security of Bhakra Dam Project

Chandigarh, October 28- In a significant step to bolster the security of one of India’s most critical infrastructure projects, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has officially taken over the security responsibilities of the Bhakra Dam project, situated between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

IG, CISF (North Sector) Sh. Navjyoti Gogoi, DIG CISF (North Zone-II) Sh. M K Yadav, and Chairman, BBMB, Sh. Manoj Tripathi, along with the Unit Commander, CISF Unit BDP Nangal, Sh. Prateek Raghuvanshi graced the occasion. The Induction ceremony at the dam marked the formal handover from state police to CISF.

The Bhakra Dam (in Himachal Pradesh) and Nangal Dam(in Punjab) is a concrete gravity dam on the Sutlej River in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, forming the Gobind Sagar Reservoir. It stands 226 m high and 518 m long. The Gobind Sagar Reservoir, extending 90 km and covering 168 square kilometers, can store 9.34 billion cubic meter of water.

Sharing information in this regard a CISF spokesperson said that the dams were guarded by the police forces of their respective states, overseen by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). However, due to emerging risks of sabotage and terrorism, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs sanctioned the deployment of a dedicated CISF unit comprising 296 armed personnel earlier in May 2025 of this year.

The spokesperson said that the CISF team will secure key areas such as the Dam walls, water gates, power stations, and access to entry points. The state police have been moved to smaller support roles to help the Bhakra Beas Management Board with overall security.

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*State-Level Haryana Day Celebrations to be Held from November 1 to 3 in Panchkula*

*Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, CM Nayab Singh Saini to Take Part in Celebrations*

*Group Dance and Ragini Competitions to be Organised for Colleges Across the State*

*Invitations Sent to Both Ruling and Opposition Parties for the Event*

Chandigarh, October 28 – The Haryana Government will organize the State-Level Haryana Day Celebrations on the occasion of the State’s Foundation Day from November 1 to 3, 2025, at Yavanika Ground, Sector 5, Panchkula. The three-day festival will be inaugurated by Governor Sh. Ashim Kumar Ghosh, while Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini will also be present on the occasion. Ministers of the state, senior officials, artists, and a large number of citizens will attend the event.

During the celebrations, participant students from colleges across the state will take part in Group Dance and Ragini competitions. Outstanding performers will be awarded cash prizes worth lakhs of rupees. The first prize will be Rs 1 lakh. The Chief Minister will again visit the venue on November 3 to present awards to the winners.

*Showcasing Haryana’s Heritage*

On the other side of the stage at Yavanika Garden, a Heritage Exhibition will be organized to display Haryana’s traditional culture, attire, agricultural tools, folk art, and handicraft items. The objective of this exhibition is to connect the new generation with the cultural roots of the state. Visitors will get a glimpse of Haryana’s centuries-old cultural heritage.

*Traditional Cuisine and Special Turban Stall*

At the festival venue, stalls of Haryana’s traditional dishes will be set up, allowing visitors to enjoy the authentic taste of Haryanvi cuisine. Dishes such as desi ghee boora, bajra roti, sarson ka saag, and various types of chutneys along with many other folk delicacies will be available. In addition, a special Haryanvi turban (khandwa) stall will also be set up, where citizens can have the turban tied on themselves.

*Welcome with Folk Musical Instruments*

Guests and citizens entering the venue will be welcomed with the melodious sounds of traditional folk instruments like been, nagada, tumbe, dhol, and others. The entire venue will radiate the vibrant essence of folk culture.

This three-day State-Level Haryana Day Celebration will showcase the glorious traditions, folk art, and culture of Haryana with renewed energy and will serve as an occasion of joy and pride for the people of the state.

*Participation of Both Ruling and Opposition Parties*

Invitations are being sent to all MLAs and members of both the ruling and opposition parties. The spokesperson said that, according to the Chief Minister, this is a celebration for the entire Haryana. The spokesperson further said that any government or private college in the state can participate in this event by sending their students to take part in the song, ragini, and group dance competitions. Only one team from each college will be allowed to participate in the group dance and singing categories. The same rules that apply to the Youth Festival will also be applicable to these competitions.

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*Haryana Transforms 58-Year-Old Land System into a Digital, Citizen-Friendly Model- FCR, Dr. Sumita Misra*

*All Land Demarcation Requests in Haryana to Be Accepted Only Through Online Portal*

*Haryana to Launch QR-Based Citizen Feedback Mechanism in Tehsil Offices*

*No More Cash Payments — Haryana Adopts 100% Digital Fee System*

Chandigarh, October 28 – Haryana has entered a new chapter in transparent and citizen-friendly governance as the state embarks on a complete digital transformation of its land and revenue administration. Financial Commissioner Revenue and Disaster Management, Dr. Sumita Misra, today held a high-level video conference with all Deputy Commissioners to review the progress of ongoing digital reforms. The meeting marks a historic shift from a 58-year-old traditional based system to a modern, fully digital framework aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and citizen convenience. QR-code-based feedback systems will soon be introduced at all Tehsil offices, allowing citizens to instantly rate their service experience and report any issues in real time.

Beginning November 1, 2025, Haryana will move to a completely paperless land registration system, making physical documents obsolete across all Tehsils. All property deeds will now require only digital signatures, ending the risks of tampering, forgery, or loss of files. To ensure public convenience, stamps purchased before November 3 will remain valid until November 15, 2025 for use under the new digital system, and witnesses can be changed digitally if required. Dr. Misra directed all Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, and registration staff to complete their user accounts on the Revenue Department’s portal by tomorrow, ensuring the seamless transition of every district into the online system.

To ensure timely delivery of services, Dr. Misra has issued a strict deadline to clear all pending property mutation cases which must be resolved by the end of this week. The department is reviewing the existing 10-day mutation verification rule and will soon introduce an auto-mutation system, launching on November 25, to automatically record ownership transfers and prevent delays and disputes.

In a major reform aimed at eliminating corruption, manual collection of fees has been completely banned. All payments will now be made through the official e-Governance payment gateway, ensuring transparency and full accountability. Deed writers have also been directed to stop manual drafting immediately, as only deeds generated through the official digital portal will hold legal validity. These online deeds will be automatically verified against land records and digitally signed by relevant authorities, ensuring total accuracy and security.

Dr. Misra also directed officials to update and verify all 7A land record numbers and court stay orders in the central system by this Friday to maintain data accuracy and integrity. She reviewed the progress of the Haryana Large Scale Mapping Project (HaLMSP) and directed all Deputy Commissioners to personally oversee completion of the critical Titama updation work. This project will create GPS-based digital maps for every plot in Haryana, eliminating boundary disputes and providing citizens with precise, legally verified property records.

All demarcation requests in Haryana will now be accepted only through the online portal, ending offline applications completely. The fees have been kept citizen-friendly—₹1,000 plus ₹500 per additional acre in rural areas, and ₹2,000 flat in urban areas. The process will use GPS-enabled Rover technology for high precision, with approvals granted by Circle Revenue Officers and Kanungos.

Dr. Sumita Misra lauded the dedication of district teams and said Haryana’s reforms go far beyond simple digitization. “We are building a governance system where every land record is accurate, every citizen is heard, and every official is accountable,” she said. With initiatives such as paperless registries, e-payments, auto-mutation, and real-time data monitoring, Haryana is setting a national benchmark for digital land governance.

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It is Government’s Responsibility to Resolve Problems of Citizens: CM Nayab Singh Saini

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Listens to Public Grievances in Ladwa

Social Security Pension has been increased to Rs 3,200 per Month: CM

Chandigarh, October 28 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that it is the government’s responsibility to resolve every problem of its citizens. The doors of the Chief Minister’s residence are open 24 hours a day to listen to people’s issues. In addition, the district administration is also holding “Samadhan Camps” every Monday and Thursday to hear public grievances.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini was listening to the problems of people from the Ladwa Assembly Constituency during the Jan Samvad (public dialogue) programme organized in Ladwa. The Chief Minister heard the grievances of around 200 people, which included issues related to BPL ration cards, family ID cards, electricity, and police matters. After the grievance hearing, the Chief Minister also participated in a tree plantation drive in the PWD Rest House premises.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the welfare of farmers is at the core of the present government’s policies. Now, all crops in the state are being procured at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Recently, the support price for sugarcane was fixed at Rs 415 per quintal. The Chief Minister informed that so far, about Rs 1,48,000 crore has been transferred to the accounts of 12 lakh farmers as crop procurement payments. He added that the long-standing “Aabiana” system dating back to the British era has been abolished to provide relief to farmers.

The Chief Minister said that Haryana provides the highest social security pension in the country, which has recently been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,200 per month. In addition, the “Deendayal Lado Laxmi Yojana” has been launched, under which economically weaker women will receive a monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,100 from November 1 onwards.

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi has resolved to make India a developed nation by the year 2047. In this direction, the Prime Minister has called for ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives and has strengthened the economy through GST reforms. He also highlighted various development and welfare schemes of the present government.

On this occasion, former Minister of State Sh. Subhash Sudha, Deputy Commissioner Sh. Vishram Kumar Meena, and other dignitaries were present.