Chandigarh, Nov 28 (IANS) The two-day annual Chandigarh carnival got off to a bright start Saturday as a parade comprising folk dancers from Punjab, drummers and colourful tableaux snaked its way through the city’s roads. Organisers are expecting around 300,000 visitors to the carnival at which several foreign countries are participating as well.
This carnival was flagged off at the sprawling Leisure Valley grounds.

“It seems that the whole city has gathered here to party. Everyone is looking happy, away from all tensions,” said Hemant Negi, a native of Shimla who got stuck briefly in a traffic jam due to the parade.

A decorated double-decker bus, meant for taking tourists around the city, was also part of the parade. Young artists and students of local colleges, dressed in their vibrant best, participated.

“We are expecting around 300,000 visitors to come here during this festival. To attract foreign tourists, we are also running a European Union film festival during the carnival and will screen films from Austria, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, Germany and Italy,” Amandeep Kaur, director tourism, Chandigarh, told IANS.

She added: “Jordan, Hungary and France have set up their stalls in the carnival. Over a dozen troupes of folk dancers from these countries have come to participate in this event.”

The other attractions included a special food court, an amusement park for children, a vintage car exhibition, folk dances and cultural activities.

Prominent comedians and Bollywood singers are expected to participate in star nites on Saturday and Sunday evening.