Una, April 10: Imbued with the festive spirit of Baisakhi, the Haroli Ground at Rora—situated on the banks of the Sombhadra River—stands fully decked up and ready to host the State-Level Haroli Festival-2026. For this event, scheduled to take place from April 11 to 14, all government departments have worked in close coordination to complete every aspect of the festival's preparations.

**Chief Minister to Inaugurate; Grand Procession to be Organized**
Vishal Sharma, President of the Haroli Festival Committee and SDM of Haroli, announced that the State-Level Haroli Festival will be inaugurated on April 11 at 5:00 PM by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He will formally inaugurate the ceremony at the Haroli Ground, Rora, following his participation in and leadership of a grand procession that will proceed from the Haroli Bus Stand to the festival venue. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri will be present on this occasion.
Meanwhile, on April 12, MLA and President of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, Vinay Kumar, will attend as the Chief Guest for the festival's second cultural evening. For the third cultural evening, the Advocate General of Himachal Pradesh, Anoop Ratan, will grace the event as the Chief Guest. The closing ceremony of the festival will be presided over by former MP and Himachal Pradesh Congress In-charge, Rajni Patil, who will serve as the Chief Guest.

**Calf Rally and Dog Show to be Organized**
Dr. Virender Singh Patial, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, Una, informed that a 'Calf Rally' will be organized on April 12—the second day of the festival—at 10:00 AM, followed by a 'Dog Show' on April 13 at 3:00 PM. The primary objective of these events is to encourage the rearing of healthy calves and to highlight the significance of dogs. Additionally, on April 13, an exhibition showcasing superior breeds of cattle and buffaloes will be held to underscore the cultural importance of these breeds within the region and to encourage livestock farmers to rear high-quality livestock. Furthermore, from April 11 to 14, the Animal Husbandry Department will provide information related to animal husbandry and conduct free testing of livestock dung and milk samples.

**Women's Competitions and Registration Details**
The SDM announced that, with the aim of providing a platform for local women's talents and ensuring their participation in the festivities, Tug-of-War, Mehndi, and Rangoli competitions will be organized exclusively for women on April 13. Women who deliver outstanding performances in these competitions will be honored with cash prizes and certificates of appreciation.
Interested women may register to participate in these competitions. Registration for the Tug-of-War competition can be done with Rajinder Bains (DP, GSSS Haroli) at mobile number 98164-29932; for the Mehndi competition with Jyoti Sharma at 70180-67510; and for the Rangoli competition with Pushpa Devi at mobile number 85806-37363.

**Haroli to Resound with the Melodies of Punjabi and Local Talents**
Over the four days of the State-Level Haroli Festival, the land of Haroli will resonate with the musical notes of renowned Punjabi and local artists. The "Star Nights" are set to be a special highlight of the event. During these evenings, celebrated artists from both Himachal Pradesh and Punjab will captivate the audience with their magnificent performances. As part of this event—which coincides with the festival of Vaisakhi—renowned Punjabi artist Gippy Grewal will entertain the crowds on the evening of April 11; followed by G. Khan and Prabh Gill on April 12; Himachal's illustrious artists Kuldeep Sharma and Anuj Sharma on April 13; and finally, Gurlez Akhtar and Ammy Virk on April 14, who will enchant the audience with their magical voices at the State-Level Haroli Festival.
It is noteworthy that this festival is being given a grand scale and stature through the dedicated efforts of Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. The festival is dedicated to the preservation of the culture and traditions of the Haroli region, as well as to the commitment toward fostering social awareness.