Pir Panjal Winter Festival | 10 Feb 2025

Why in News? 

The Indian Army inaugurated the Pir Panjal Winter Festival in Poonch, marking the beginning of a two-month-long celebration featuring a diverse range of sports and cultural events.

Key Points

  • Commitment to Youth and Social Reform: 
  • Diverse Sports and Cultural Events: 
    • Sports: Under-25 boys cricket tournament, Under-25 boys and Under-21 girls volleyball tournament, and an open Kho-Kho tournament for girls. 
    • Cultural Performances: Gujari and Pahari folk dance performances, music and dance talent hunts, solo and group singing competitions. 
    • Academic and Creative Competitions: Science and arts exhibitions, painting contests, essay writing, and elocution competitions. 
  • Impact on Youth and Marginalized Communities: 
    • The initiative aims to foster sportsmanship, cultural revival, and holistic development, particularly among youth from remote and marginalized communities in Poonch.

Indian Army

  • The Indian army originated from the forces of the East India Company, which later became the 'British Indian Army', and eventually, after Independence, the Indian Army. 
  • The Indian Army was founded almost 126 years ago by the British on 1st April, 1895.

Pir Panjal 

  • About: 
    • The Pir Panjal Range is a mountain range in the northern Indian subcontinent. 
    • It begins in Ramban and extends westward, lying south of Jammu and Kashmir’s Vale of Kashmir, reaching Muzaffarabad District. 
    • The range rises sharply to an average elevation of over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). 
    • It separates the Jammu Hills in the south from the Vale of Kashmir, beyond which lie the Great Himalayas. 
    • The range separates from the Himalayas near the banks of the Sutlej River. 
    • It forms a natural divide between the Beas and Ravi rivers on one side and the Chenab River on the other. 
  • Major Passes: 
    • The range has six historical passes, Hajipir Pass, Gulabgarh Pass, Ratanpir Pass, Pir Panjal Pass, Banihal Pass, Bairam Gala Pass. 
  • Important Peaks: 
    • Deo Tibba (6,001 m) and Indrasan (6,221 m) are two significant peaks at the eastern end of the range.