Cultural programs to be organised at religious, cultural and tourist sites across UP from Aug 2025 to March end 2026: Minister

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to organise cultural programs once a week at various cultural, religious, and tourist sites across the state. These events will begin in August 2025 and continue until March 31, 2026.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening the livelihood of folk artists and improving their economic condition. For each site, an honorarium of Rs 40,000 will be provided to the artistes per day, along with Rs 8,000 for programme arrangements, making a total of Rs 48,000 per site.

Advertisement

This information was shared on Wednesday by Uttar Pradesh Tourism & Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh at his official residence.

He informed that programmes will be held for around 15 days at each site. In this way, organising cultural programmes at 21 identified locations will incur an estimated expenditure of Rs 352.80 lakh. He added that such events will not only draw large numbers of devotees and tourists but also create local employment opportunities and increase state revenue.

The minister further said that venues have already been identified for these cultural programmes. These include Kusumvan Sarovar, Mathura; Jhansi Fort; Ramghat, Chitrakoot; Subah-e-Banaras, Varanasi; Triveni Ghat, Prayagraj; Kudiyaghat, Lohia Park, Rai Umanath Bali, and Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow; Shukr Teerth, Muzaffarnagar; Ramgarh Tal, Gorakhpur; Ram Ki Paidi, Ayodhya, and Samour Baba Dham, Firozabad.

The list also includes Sita Samahit Sthal, Bhadohi; Bateshwar Dham, Agra; Parmeshwari Dham, Azamgarh; Vindhyavasini Temple, Vindhyachal; Prem Mandir, Vrindavan; Naimisharanya Dham, Sitapur; Devipatan Temple, Balrampur; Garhmukteshwar, Hapur; Shakumbhari Devi, Saharanpur; and Sheetla Dham Temple, Mainpuri.

Minister Jaiveer Singh emphasised that these programs will also help preserve fading forms of folk music and traditional art, while simultaneously providing financial support to artists. He noted that the state government, particularly through the Culture Department, is committed to the preservation and promotion of folk arts.

The objective is not only to safeguard these art forms but also to pass them on to the younger generation. At the same time, such events will enhance public interest and attraction towards cultural, religious, and tourism destinations across the state.