Curtain raiser 12th Pinjore Heritage Festival, 2019 Haryana Tourism Pinjore Heritage Festival: Celebrating a royal legacy. The distinct heritage of the famed Pinjore gardens is commemorated and celebrated every year when Haryana Tourism Corporation hosts the grand Pinjore Heritage Festival. The first Pinjore Heritage Festival was hosted at the Pinjore Gardens in 2006. It has since become a much awaited annual feature in the cultural calendar of the region. The grandeur of the royal Mughal Gardens – fortress walls, ramparts, bastions and palaces offer a perfect backdrop for the Pinjore Heritage Festival. This Festival encompasses regal and varied traditional flavours and is truly a tribute to these world-famous Mughal Gardens that form the venue for this event. In 2019, the 12th edition of the Pinjore Heritage Festival is being celebrated on 21st and 22nd of December with much enthusiasm and gusto. The Festival is a two day event organised & hosted by Haryana Tourism with the support of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. During the Festival, the Garden is decked up as a bride, its palaces lit up and adorned with marigold linings, arches draped with satin curtains and water channels sprinkled with petals of red roses. The well-illuminated Gardens dazzle like a jewel in the evening. With Festivities in the air and reverberating musical notes spell enjoyment for visitors. The enthralling Day Performances by folk dance groups like kacchi Ghori, Bhangra Jindua, baazigar, Nachar, Nagada,Been Jogi, Himachali Nati. Kalbelia, Behroopiyas, Ghoomar Phag and Folk Singers, etc bring the pathways of the Gardens alive and entertain the visitors thoroughly. A number of Competitions like rangoli, face painting, and mehndi applying are organised for the school students of Chandigarh and Panchkula during the day. The Cultural Evenings are food for the soul; they further enliven spirits of the Festival. The Garden starts breathing once again with the mellifluous music of the maestros invited to perform at the Festival. A host of celebrated performers have graced this occasion every year making each edition of the Festival unforgettable. This year a bouquet of performances await the aficionados of music and art. On 21st December, Jasbir Jassi will bring in the Punjabi folk and pop flavour to the spirited ambiance of the festival. Jasbir jassi is known for a string of hit music albums – 'Dil Le Gayee, Kudi Kudi, Nishani Pyar Di, Just Jassi, Mukhda Chann Varga and 'Akh Mastani and many more. On the 22nd of December, the visitors will be treated to the mesmerizing and enchanting voice of Madhushree. Madhushree is famous for singing in Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu films. A familiar voice in A. R. Rahman's compositions, She is known for songs in films like Yuva, Aayitha Ezhuthu, Jodha Akbar Kal Ho Naa Ho, Ham Hain Ispal Yahan and Kuch Naa Kaho, Tu Bin Bataye, In Lamhon Ke Daaman Me. She is most known for her song "Kabhi Neem Neem" from Yuva (2004). This edition of the heritage festival is also offering a special entry ticket price of Rs. 15/-, so that the visitors can enjoy the grand festival at a pocket friendly entry price. Another crowd-puller of the Festival is the Crafts Bazaar, where craftspersons from different parts of the country are invited to display their unique handlooms and handicrafts. With pottery, apparel to handicrafts from states like Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, UP, Haryana and J&K, the visitors will have a plethora of choice to shop from. The multi-cuisine Food Court is another major attraction of the Festival. The main highlight of this year’s Heritage Festival is the delectable Mughlai dishes, which will include Biryani, Tandoori dishes, Qorma, Rumali Roti, naan and much more. A wide range of delectable dishes like Jaipur’s Dal Bati Churma, , Jalebies and Haryanvi and Chinese cuisines et al, tantalise the taste buds of one and all. The State Institutes of Hotel Management of Kurukshetra, Panipat, Rohtak and Faridabad will put up food stalls for sale of the F&B items including the scrumptious bakery products. Shri. Kanwar Pal, Hon’ble Tourism Minister, Haryana will be the Chief Guest for the opening ceremony on the 21st of December along with other dignitaries, who will grace the occasion. The people who visit the Garden during the Festival seem to forget the fatigue of their spirit for a while, as the spellbinding beauty of the paradise garden leaves them mesmerized. The Garden becomes a sanctuary for people to retreat and shares each other’s joy..