Kumar Bahukhandi
Durg: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai attended the Pola festival organised in Madiapar village of Durg district today as the chief guest. He inaugurated the programme by flagging off the bull race. Organised under the joint aegis of Chhattisgarh Culture Department, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and Shastri Nav Yuvak Mandal Madiapar, this festival showcased the confluence of Chhattisgarh’s ancient culture and traditional games.
Addressing the function, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated the villagers on Pola Tihar. He said that he had heard a lot about the bull race of Madiyapar and today he got the opportunity to see it.
Sai said that Pola Tihar is the biggest festival of farmers related to agriculture. It tells us the importance of agriculture and livestock in our lives. On this day, Nadia bull and Jata Pora are worshipped with enthusiasm in homes and prayers are offered for a good harvest and wealth in the house. This is a festival deeply connected to the tradition, culture and folk life of Chhattisgarh. The Central and State Governments are running many schemes keeping in mind the interests of farmers.
Chief Minister Sai said that on the occasion of Teej-Pora festival, the seventh installment amount under Mahtari Vandan Yojana has been transferred to the accounts of 70 lakh mothers and sisters of the state. He said that the government is constantly making efforts to double the income of farmers to fulfilling the guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rs 3716 crore has been paid to 13 lakh farmers in the state as bonus for two years of paddy. Along with this, 21 quintals paddy has been purchased from farmers per acre. Similarly, the remuneration for collecting tendu leaves has been increased from Rs 4 thousand to Rs 5500 per standard sack.
Chief Minister Sai also stressed on organising such events at other places in the state for the protection and preservation of traditional festivals. On this occasion, he announced the construction of a dome at the Pola Mahotsav venue, construction of a community building at Madiyapar, Rs 5 lakh per year for organising the Pola Mahotsav and opening of a District Cooperative Bank branch in village Litiya.
MP Vijay Baghel, while addressing the program, said that Madiyapar has got recognition in the state due to the Pola Mahotsav. He said that many festivals have been celebrated in Chhattisgarh. These festivals have increased love and goodwill here. He wished everyone on the occasion of Pola festival. Jagdalpur MLA Kiran Singh Deo, regional MLA Ishwar Sahu also addressed the program. During the Mahotsav former MLA Jageshwar Sahu, Labhchand Bafna and Awadhesh Singh Chandel along with other public representatives and senior officers of the district administration, officials of the organising committee and a large number of people were present.
