Sambhar Utsav Started in Sambhar, Rajasthan

Deputy CM and Tourism Minister Diya Kumari has inaugurated the Sambhar Festival 2024 at Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan.

• The three-day festival is believed to start on 26 January and end on 28 January.
• The Sambhar Festival will be developed on the line of the Rann festival of Kutch.
• Activities like heritage walk, fancy kite flying, art and craft stall, photography exhibition, food court, fancy kite flying, camel cart ride for tourists, parasailing, paramount, the thrill of ATV vehicles etc. will be organised here.

About Sambhar Lake

• It is the largest inland salt lake in India, located in the depression of the Aravalli Range.
• The Lake's salt supply was worked by the Mughal dynasty from 1526 to 1857. Later, it was owned jointly by the princely states of Jaipur and Jodhpur.
• Ramsar Site: Sambhar Lake is a wetland that has been declared of 'international importance' under the Ramsar Convention since 1990. 
• The area occupied by the lake varies from season to season, ranging from 190 to 230 sq km. The depth of the lake also changes depending on the season, as it is an extensive saline wetland. 
  • During the dry season, the depth can be as low as 60 cm, but during the monsoon season, it can reach up to 3 m. 
• The lake is fed by six rivers: Samaod, Khari, Mantha, Khandela, Medtha, and Roopangarh. 
• The vegetation in the catchment area is mostly xerophytic, which means it has adapted to grow under dry conditions.
• Sambhar Lake is home to a variety of wildlife, including flamingoes, pelicans, and waterfowl.
•  However, in 2019, almost 22,000 migratory birds died due to avian botulism, a neuromuscular illness. 
  • To prevent such incidents from happening again, the Rajasthan government decided to construct temporary shelters for migratory birds near the lake before the winter season of 2020.
• The lake is also famous for its production of brine/salt and houses one of the largest salt manufacturing units in the country. 
• Nearby attractions include the Shakambari Devi temple and the Sambhar Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Ramsar Convention

The Ramsar Convention, also known as the Convention on Wetlands, is an intergovernmental treaty that aims to preserve and sustainably utilize wetlands and their resources. It was established in the city of Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 and was enforced in 1975