Baramulla, July 10: In a vibrant celebration of cultural unity and grassroots development, the border town of Uri came alive with the one-day mega Border Festival "Jashn-e-Sarhad, Sufi Saaz ke Sang" held at the iconic Shahadara Sharief under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-II).

Organised jointly by the Directorate of Information and PR, J&K, and District Administration Baramulla, the festival drew an enthusiastic crowd from Shahadara and nearby villages, blending cultural revival with government outreach.

MLA Uri Dr. Sajad Shafi was the chief guest, joined by DIG North Kashmir Masqood-ul-Zaman, DC Baramulla Minga Sherpa, Commander 161 Brigade Brig. Manish Sehgal, SSP Baramulla Gurinderpal Singh, Joint Director Information Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari, and other senior officers.

Setting the tone, District Information Officer Iftakhar Naseem welcomed participants and highlighted the aim to celebrate the region’s Sufi heritage while informing the public about development schemes.

The festival featured electrifying cultural performances from Jhankar Band, Pir Panjal Strings, Bal Puraskar Awardee Ishfaq Ahmad, and the J&K Police Band, captivating hundreds in attendance.

ACD Baramulla Choudhary Mudasir Hussain outlined key initiatives under VVP-II, including all-weather connectivity, heritage preservation, healthcare, and education infrastructure in remote border areas.

Earlier, dignitaries visited stalls by departments like Health, Education, ICDS, NRLM, and Handicrafts, offering locals valuable information on welfare schemes and livelihood programs.

The event concluded with a strong sense of community optimism, blending celebration with civic engagement and reaffirming the government’s focus on integrating development with cultural preservation in Jammu and Kashmir’s frontier zones.