Considered as Punjab’s answer to Haryana’s popular annual Surajkund Fair, the festivals had gained considerable popularity. However, uncertainty had been looming large over the festivals ever since the government changed last year. Only Kapurthala festival was held this year, which ended on a low-key note.

Sources said the Punjab government has cancelled its agreement with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), which was jointly holding the festivals. The Amarinder Singh government had signed an MoU with Intach. Punjab’s Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabria said, “We will now hold the festivals on our own and not involve Intach. We are just trying to avoid wasteful expenditure.” Gabria, however, added that the Patiala

and Amritsar festivals have not been cancelled, but “only postponed”.

“We will hold the festivals later for which a meeting has been convened,” he said. He, however, admitted that these would not be held in immediate future, as children were busy in their exams, after which summer would be at its peak. Gabria said the Punjab government had earmarked Rs 1 crore for the Amritsar and Patiala festivals. During the previous years, Rs 3 crore were spent annually on them.

The Punjab government had set up a Festival Committee with MP Preneet Kaur as its chairperson during the Congress regime.

The Opposition at that time had often raised voices against large allocation of funds for the said committee and selection of artistes.

Ironically, five years of festivity have also failed to preserve the heritage of this royal city.