Why in news?

• With the advent of New Year, Manali will be hosting the Winter Carnival from January 2 to 6.
• The annual fest is organised to attract tourists to Kullu and Manali during the off-season, promote folk culture and provide a platform to local artistes and those from other states.
• In order to expand it, the then Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal gave the Winter Carnival the status of a state-level festival in 1999 while it became a national event in 2011.
• The main purpose of the carnival in 1970s was to promote winter sports.
• Harnam Singh, the then director of the mountaineering institute in Manali, played an important role in starting this event.