Punjab Government will hold a week-long ‘Punjabi Language and Cultural Utsav’, dedicated to Punjabi language, from February 14.

Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, during a meeting with the officials of various departments, said that week long celebrations dedicated to promotion of Punjabi language would be held from February 14 to 21.

As per the program, inaugural function would be held at Punjabi University, Patiala, on February 14 where Punjab Arts Council chairman Dr Surjit Patar and Dr Waryam Sandhu would present papers on challenges and solutions faced by the Punjabi language.

Apart from this, 11 prominent personalities would be honoured for their contribution for the promotion of Punjabi language. Cabinet Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Channi would attend the function. On February 15, Punjabi Kavi Darbar and Ghazal singing function would be held at Punjab Arts Council, Sector-16, Chandigarh, where prominent Punjabi poets would be honoured. An international seminar on Punjabi language would be organized the next day at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and prominent personalities working for the development and promotion of Punjabi Language would be honoured. In the series of the event on February 18, stage play competition among winning teams of four universities (Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab University, Patiala, and Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana) would be held at Punjab University. Punjab Sangeet Natak Academy would also perform Punjabi play ‘Loona’ on the occasion.

On February 19, folk dance and folk songs competitions would be held at Guru Nanak Bhawan, Ludhiana. Famous Punjabi Singer would also give his performance on this occasion in the evening.On the concluding day, Punjab Arts Council would organize functions at Ludhiana and Chandigarh. Ludhiana Punjab Sahit Academy and Punjab Arts Council would organize parallel functions at Ludhiana and Chandigarh, respectively, to promote Punjabi language.