CM Sukhu Chairs Minjar Mela's Grand Finale in Chamba
Synopsis
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over the closing cultural evening of Chamba's International Minjar Mela on Sunday, distributing prizes to competition winners and announcing Rs 591 crore in road spending for the district.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chaired the final cultural night of the International Minjar Mela in Chamba on Sunday, 3 August 2026 .
Prizes were distributed to winners of various competitions held during the mela, and a district administration souvenir was officially released.
The state government has spent Rs 591 crore on road construction and expansion in Chamba district .
HP Legislative Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania and State Planning Board Vice Chairman Bhavani Singh Pathania were among senior officials present.
The Minjar Mela is an annual celebration in Chamba marking the maize and paddy season, rooted in centuries of local cultural tradition.
The curtain came down on Chamba's International Minjar Mela in grand style on Sunday evening, with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presiding over the final cultural night — distributing prizes to competition winners and unveiling a commemorative souvenir published by the district administration.
Sukhu described the Minjar Mela as a festival of unmatched grandeur and cultural heritage, one that has for generations woven communities together through 'aapsi prem, bhaichaare aur sanskritik ekta' — mutual love, brotherhood, and cultural unity. The occasion drew a prominent gathering of state and district leaders, including Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, State Planning Board Vice Chairman Bhavani Singh Pathania, MLAs Neeraj Nayyar and Hardeep Singh Bawa, former ministers Asha Kumari and Thakur Singh Bharmouri, and senior Congress functionaries from the district.
591 Crore Rupees and the Roads Reshaping Chamba
The cultural evening gave the Chief Minister a platform to underscore the state government's development agenda for one of Himachal Pradesh's most remote districts. Sukhu announced that Rs 591 crore has been spent on road construction and expansion in Chamba, framing it as evidence of the government's 'full commitment' to the district's development.
Chamba's terrain — deep gorges, high passes, and river valleys — has historically made road connectivity a persistent challenge. Infrastructure investment here carries outsized significance: a better road is not just a convenience but often the difference between seasonal isolation and year-round access to markets, schools, and hospitals.
Minjar Mela: Chamba's Living Cultural Calendar
The International Minjar Mela is Chamba's most celebrated annual event, held each year to mark the onset of the maize and paddy season. The festival — believed to date back centuries to the reign of Chamba's royal dynasty — features colourful processions, folk performances, and a ritual immersion of the 'minjar' (a silk tassel symbolising the crop) in the Ravi river. Its 'international' tag reflects the participation of cultural troupes from beyond the state and country in recent editions.
For Himachal Pradesh's political leadership, attending Minjar Mela is both a cultural duty and a strategic signal — a visible presence in a district that sits far from the state capital Shimla and often feels the weight of geographic marginalisation.
Point of View
A district where the Congress has historically needed to consolidate support. The presence of the Assembly Speaker, Planning Board vice chairman, and multiple MLAs at a single district event also reflects the party's effort to project unified state-level attention on a region that can feel overlooked. Whether the cited infrastructure investment translates into visible on-ground change will determine how durable that goodwill proves ahead of the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Minjar Mela in Chamba?
The Minjar Mela is an annual cultural festival held in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, celebrating the onset of the maize and paddy season. It features folk performances, processions, and a ritual immersion of the 'minjar' — a silk tassel representing the crop — in the Ravi river, and has been held for centuries.
Why did CM Sukhu attend the Minjar Mela 2026?
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over the closing cultural evening of the International Minjar Mela on Sunday, 3 August 2026, distributing prizes to competition winners and releasing a commemorative souvenir published by the Chamba district administration.
How much has Himachal Pradesh spent on roads in Chamba?
Chief Minister Sukhu announced that the state government has spent Rs 591 crore on road construction and expansion in Chamba district as part of its development commitments to the region.
Who attended the Minjar Mela closing ceremony with CM Sukhu?
The event was attended by HP Legislative Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, State Planning Board Vice Chairman Bhavani Singh Pathania, MLAs Neeraj Nayyar and Hardeep Singh Bawa, former ministers Asha Kumari and Thakur Singh Bharmouri, and several district Congress leaders.
When is the Minjar Mela held every year?
The Minjar Mela is held annually in Chamba, typically in late July or early August, coinciding with the sowing season for maize and paddy crops in the region.
