PATIALA: The SAD- BJP Government is gearing up to hold two weeks Heritage Festival here on Friday in the third week of this month.

Sources said here that since the festival was started by previous Congress Government led by Capt. Amarinder Singh in 2003 and had formed Patiala Heritage Society and made Maharani Preneet Kaur its chairperson.  The previous Congress Government has been organising this mega event under the aegis of Patiala Heritage society with the help of INTACH on behalf of Government of Punjab.

Sidelining Maharani Preneet Kaur the Government of Punjab has constituted the Patiala Craft Mela Committee for monitoring and implementing the day-to-day functioning of the event.

The Tourism department has been given the responsibility to hold this event. The Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Textile Government of India will also join the hands.

The Department of Tourism, Punjab is gearing up to host its annual two weeks Patiala Heritage Festival, which is likely to be held in third week of the month. As part of this event, a Craft Mela on lines of the Suraj Kund Craft Mela will also be organised. This time Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) has approached the Punjab Kala Parishad, Chandigarh. The department likely to seek the help of Patiala Heritage Society if need arises the sources added.

The Patiala Heritage Festival is propose to be held at Sheesh Mahal ground, which is part of old, Moti Bagh Palace Complex. The site is about eight acres and is marked by a dry lake bed with a suspension bridge called Luxmun Jhula. The dry lake bed will form the stage for the Craft Mela, while the garden around it will be used for performing artists and for erecting food stalls. Around 200 craftsmen from across the country will be participating in the event. A craft bazaar will also be part of the Craft Mela and will display copper engraving, traditional jewellery, pottery, paintings etc.

The previous Congress Government has been successfully organising Patiala Heritage Festival and Craft Mela since 2004 with financial assistance from the centre.

Sources further added that t he state government has urged the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Textile, Government of India to release the funds for the upcoming event soon. An amount of Rs ten lakh has already been sanctioned by the Department of Handloom, Government of India. "The total estimated cost of this festival is expected to be about Rs 45 lakh. Out of this total estimated cost of event, about Rs 15 lakh will be given by Ministry of Tourism and Rs 15 lakh is to be sanctioned by Ministry of Textile, Government of India," said sources.