Manali prepares to host skiing competition during Winter Carnival 2009

Manali, Feb 3 (ANI): The organisers are busy preparing for the skiing competition as participants have arrived in Manali in hordes.

"This year, it has been proposed by the organising committee of the Winter Carnival 2009 that along with the cultural events, there should be skiing activities and skiing competition," said Mahaveer Singh, organiser, Winter Carnival 2009.

Skiing participants are thrilled, as the Winter Carnival Committee has decided to continue skiing competition for the second consecutive year.

"I am participating in the skiing competition this year. Skiing has a lot of scope abroad. I am preparing for the competition," said Narendra Lal, a resident.

This year, the annual state level winter carnival is going to be held from February 15 to 19.

The winter carnival, a regular feature, is a unique youth festival in which teams drawn from various youth clubs, colleges and universities from all over India compete in many events. A panel of judges assesses the performance.

The annual event, which started in the late '70s, was declared a state-level festival three years back in a bid to promote tourism in the hilly state.

Tourism is the mainstay of state's economy, which generates about 100 million dollars annually.

Approximately, 35,000 tourists visit Manali every month during winter. By Prem Kumar (ANI)