HP CM Sukhu savours pakodas at Chamba's Minjar Mela
Synopsis
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited Chamba's international Minjar Mela on 2 August 2026, sampling hot pakodas at a local stall and publicly praising the skill and warmth of Himachal Pradesh's working vendors and artisans.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited Chamba's international Minjar Mela on 2 August 2026 .
He sampled hot pakodas at a local vendor stall during the fair.
Sukhu praised the skill of Himachal's 'kaamgar bhai-bahen' (working brothers and sisters) and the 'sweetness of belonging' in their food.
The Minjar Mela is an annual monsoon fair in Chamba that has been designated international in recent editions.
The visit aligns with a broader state pattern of leaders engaging with district-level fairs to highlight local livelihoods and culture.
At a bustling stall in Chamba's international Minjar Mela, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paused for something simple — a plate of hot pakodas made by a local vendor. The moment, shared by the Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, 2 August 2026, carried a warmth that went beyond the snack.
In his own words, 'गरमागरम पकौड़ियों का स्वाद लिया' ('savoured piping-hot pakodas'), CM Sukhu extended 'heartfelt affection and good wishes to all hardworking companions,' calling out the skill of Himachal's working men and women and the 'sweetness of belonging' in the food they make.
Minjar Mela and what it means for Chamba
Chamba, a historic district tucked in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh, hosts the Minjar Mela every monsoon season — a fair that has grown from a local harvest celebration into an event carrying the 'international' tag in recent editions. Processions, traditional music, handicraft stalls, and local cuisine define its character. For the vendors who set up here, the mela is not just culture; it is livelihood. State leaders in Himachal have long made a habit of showing up at district-level fairs — not just for the ribbon-cutting, but to be seen eating, talking, and walking among the stalls. CM Sukhu's visit fits that pattern, underscoring the state government's stated focus on rural livelihoods tied to traditional food and craft trades.The artisan at the centre of the frame
The post's sharpest detail is not the Chief Minister — it is the vendor. By naming 'kaamgar bhai-bahen' (working brothers and sisters) and their craft, Sukhu's message places the spotlight on the informal economy that keeps fairs like Minjar alive. These are not registered enterprises or scheme beneficiaries in a headline; they are the people frying pakodas at dawn and packing up after midnight. That acknowledgement, however brief, lands with a specific weight in a state where artisan and vendor communities are a significant political constituency.Point of View
Not where they vote in assembly halls. For a Congress government that came to power in late 2022 on a welfare and anti-incumbency wave, visible solidarity with informal workers at cultural events is part of a deliberate outreach calculus. The 'international' tag on the Minjar Mela also signals the state's push to position Chamba's heritage on a wider tourism map, making such visits doubly useful: cultural endorsement and tourism promotion in a single frame. Whether that translates into concrete artisan support schemes will be the measure that matters.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Minjar Mela in Chamba?
The Minjar Mela is an annual monsoon fair held in Chamba , Himachal Pradesh , celebrating the harvest season with processions, traditional music, local cuisine, and handicraft stalls. It has been designated an international fair in recent editions.
Why did CM Sukhu visit the Minjar Mela?
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited the Chamba Minjar Mela to engage with local vendors and artisans, sampling pakodas at a stall and publicly praising the skill of Himachal's working community.
When did CM Sukhu attend the Minjar Mela 2026?
CM Sukhu's visit to the Minjar Mela was shared by the Chief Minister's Office on Sunday, 2 August 2026 .
What did CM Sukhu say about Himachal's artisans?
CM Sukhu said Himachal's working brothers and sisters possess great skill, and that their food carries a 'sweetness of belonging.' He extended heartfelt affection and good wishes to all hardworking companions.
Where is Chamba district located?
Chamba is a historic district in the northern part of Himachal Pradesh , known for its temples, traditional crafts, and annual cultural fairs including the Minjar Mela.
