DELHI: The much-awaited ‘Delhi Festival’ – a unique gala celebrating the capital as a tourism hub – has been deferred due to the intense smog.
Tourism Minister, Kapil Mishra, informed on Wednesday that the extravaganza will now be held from February 4 to 24, a period of 21 days, reports India Today.
Planned on the lines of Dubai & Edinburgh Festivals, the extravaganza was earlier scheduled from November 19 to December 10 to ‘rebrand the city.’
Minister Kapil Mishra said, “Plans were afoot on a warscale. The best consulting agencies have been hired, including Wieden+Kennedy, for the job. But first the political turmoil following the Uri attack & then the smog have forced us to shift the event by a few days.” “Foreign and even domestic tourists will not be inclined to visit Delhi right now. In February, the weather will be much more pleasant,” he added.
Mail Today had reported on October 9 that the AAP Government plans to give an image makeover to Delhi in terms of tourism and has even allocated Rs 25 crore for a unique ‘Delhi Festival.’
With a unique slogan ‘Aao Dilli Manayein’ (Let’s celebrate Delhi), the government plans to showcase the city in all its glory, from Chandni Chowk’s street food and theatre festivals of Mandi House to South Delhi’s plush shopping malls and eco-tourism at Yamuna and Asola Mines biodiversity parks. For the first time, a slogan has been thought up for Delhi-‘Dilli Hain Hum’ such as Kerala’s ‘God’s Own Country.’
