Shimla
Four cultural evenings, a laser show, traditional food festival and Mr and Miss Bushahr contests among key attractions
Rampur, October 12: The International Lavi Fair 2026 will be held in Rampur from November 11 to 14, with a range of cultural programmes, traditional exhibitions, sporting events and public awareness activities planned to showcase the region’s rich heritage.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the fair organising committee chaired by Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap in Rampur.
The four-day fair will feature four cultural evenings, including two dedicated to Pahari culture, one to Bollywood music and another to Punjabi music. Other attractions will include sports competitions, a laser show, a traditional musical instruments competition, a poetry gathering, a traditional food festival, a wall art competition and the Mr and Miss Bushahr contests.
Kashyap said the Lavi Fair was an important symbol of the region’s historical and cultural heritage. He stressed the need to preserve traditional crafts, products and cultural practices while carrying forward the fair’s longstanding trading traditions. He added that efforts would be made to ensure participation from people across age groups.
Bushahr’s heritage to take centre stage
Special activities will highlight the history, culture and legacy of the former Bushahr princely state. These will include a heritage exhibition featuring old photographs and documents, along with displays of traditional handicrafts, handloom products, woollen goods, jewellery and local agricultural and horticultural produce.
Apple and other horticultural products, traditional cuisines, and products from self-help groups (SHGs) and farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) will also be showcased. Live demonstrations of traditional crafts, displays of local architecture, a Rampur heritage walk and a traditional Lavi market are among the planned attractions.
The fair will also highlight the historical trade links between Bushahr and Tibet, reflecting Rampur’s longstanding role as a trading centre in the region.
City to get special lighting and decoration
Rampur will be specially illuminated and decorated during the fair, with selfie points planned at various locations. Articles will also be invited from school students and members of the public for the fair souvenir.
To improve visitor facilities, the administration plans to provide more temporary drinking water connections than last year. A dedicated traffic management plan will be prepared, with parking arrangements at different locations across the town.
Around 300 police personnel to be deployed
Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said around 300 police personnel would be deployed to maintain law and order during the fair. Additional Superintendent of Police Gauravjeet Singh will oversee security arrangements.
Special measures will be taken to regulate traffic and ensure public safety. The police will also keep a close watch on illegal activities, including gambling.
Chamurthi horses to be a major attraction
A special equestrian exhibition will be organised at the Lavi Fair grounds, featuring the Chamurthi breed, known for its association with the high-altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh, particularly Spiti.
These small but sturdy horses are valued for their compact build and ability to negotiate difficult mountain trails and snowy terrain. The organisers are also planning to invite horse breeds from other states to promote livestock trade and animal husbandry. Universities from other states will be invited to participate.
Horse-racing events over 400 metres and 800 metres, along with balloon-popping competitions, will be organised as part of the exhibition.
Farmers’ session to focus on animal husbandry
A farmers’ session will provide information on animal health, care, feeding practices and improved livestock management. Representatives from other states will share their experiences, while discussions will also be held on challenges faced by horse breeders and possible solutions.
Uniform look planned for Kinnauri market
The organising committee will provide canopies of a uniform design in the Kinnauri market to give the area a more organised and visually consistent appearance. The market traditionally deals in dry fruits, pulses, clothing and other local products.
Government departments to showcase achievements
Various government departments will set up exhibitions highlighting their key initiatives and achievements over the past three years. The administration has asked departments to prioritise new achievements rather than repeat displays presented at last year’s fair, enabling visitors to learn more about government schemes and development work.
Essay competition for school students
For the first time, an essay-writing competition will be organised for students from schools in Rampur and surrounding areas. Each school will select its first-, second- and third-place winners for the final round.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three performers in the final round, while other participants will also receive encouragement awards. Students will write essays on the history of the Lavi Fair during the school-level round. The rules and conditions will be announced shortly.
Awareness drives to promote a safe and green fair
The fair will also host public awareness initiatives on the Nasha Mukt Himachal campaign, road safety, disaster management, fire safety, cleanliness, water conservation, environmental protection, cyber safety, and the protection of women and children.
Other planned activities include a plastic-free fair campaign, blood donation camps, health check-ups, traffic awareness drives and plantation activities. The initiatives aim to make the event safer, cleaner and more environmentally sustainable.
Those present at the meeting included Sub-Divisional Magistrate Harsh Amarendra Negi, Additional Superintendent of Police Gauravjeet Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police Siddharth Sharma, Municipal Council president Karn Sharma, vice-president Rohit Negi, Block Congress Committee president Lal Chand Sharma and Kailash Federation director Trilok Baluni, among others.
