Junagadh: Large number of tourists today visited this year’s edition of the month long ‘Gir Summer Festival’ being held at the Helipad ground in Bhalchhel village in Mendarda taluka of Junagadh close to Sasan Gir.

The festival organized annually by tourism department of Gujarat to promote the tourism in Gir, the sole abode of Asiatic lions, which is also quite famous for its Kesar Mango and cultural heritage, was inaugurated last evening by Minister of state for water supply, civil aviation and salt industry, Jashabhai Barad.It will continue till May 29.

Today being Sunday the number of visitors to the venue was quite large. In last six years the festival has seen over six fold increase in number of visitors.

According to organizers the festival provide opportunities for various farmers and traders especially those associated with mango farming. Various cultural and sports activities are also being organized during the month-long festival. Different varieties of mangoes and traditional handicrafts stalls have been set up for exhibition. Message to save the wild-life is also being spread through the festival.

Among others, the festival has been organized with view to make Kesar mango from Saurashtra famous among national and international tourists.

The event is also famous as Mango festival owing to the focus on promotion of mango through it.

DeshGujarat