Lucknow:
The ten-day annual 'Lucknow Mahotsava' which will depict the glorious past of the city and its state in the present scenario began here today.
Inaugurating the fest by lighting the lamp, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said, "The theme of the festival is 'Badalte Parivesh Mein Lucknow Par Naaz, Kanoon Ka Raaj'.
"Through this theme, efforts have been made to present the glorious past of Lucknow, besides showcasing its changing picture of today," Mayawati said addressing a function.
The festival is being organised every year to inform people about the 'Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb' of Lucknow, she said, adding that due to its cultural heritage, Lucknow has created its identity all over the world.
The city is fast becoming an attractive tourist destination with its several historical buildings, museums, memorials and parks. In past three years, the state government had spent crores of rupees to make Lucknow a modern city.
Mayawati claimed that several memorials, museums, parks, galleries and squares created by her government to honour saints, gurus and great men born in Dalit families and other backward sections, were attracting tourists to Lucknow.
The tourists coming to this city would now be inspired by the heroes of social change, she said.
With Hazratganj, the heart of the city, completing its 200 years, the government is going to implement several development projects to make the city beautiful, Mayawati added.