Carnival Winter Games
History
The winter carnival actually started with the beginning of the winter games here in Manali and the endeavour was started by the late Shri Harnam Singh, chairperson of the mountaineering institute at that time. That's how the winter carnival of Manali began. In those days, there were a very few locals that were attached with the winter sports games that were held then but this was no reason for them to stay back and not be a part of this great sport. Soon, fascinated by the things that a person could do on skis, the local youth then being dare devil's due to their existence in the mountains, improvised their own home made skis made out of wooden planks and tin for the base to accelerate speed! This was the real beginning way back in 1977. Soon, the local authorities (The mountaineering and allied sports institute) took notice of the will and the enthusiasts that were willing to break a bone or two just to show their worth and took them in under free courses that trained and nourished the local talent here. Today, manali stands tall to know and be proud of their sons and daughters that represent a country that has no name in winter sports in international and even Olympic level competitions. The club formed then, the Manali winter sports club was spear headed by the 1st President, Mrs. Bala Johnson and some great names of those days were and still are :-
Thakur Tara Chand
Gupt Ram Thakur
Dharam Chand (Leader)
Roop Chand Negi
Vir Singh
Iqbal Sharma
The Present
The present day story is very different, recognized by the government of India, the professionals have tons of opportunity and parents no regret to send their own to be a part of this great sport. The current president of the Manali winter sports club is Mr. Khem Raj Thakur leading a club that gave birth to all the local clubs that have mushroomed in every village in and around Manali. This club, Manali winter sports club, is the mother consult of all of these clubs. It's a story untold, today our youth represent us in international venues like the Asian winter games, The winter Olympics and a lot more international events. It's not only a privilege to our state but also to our great nation as well.
The strength is now in 1000s just within Himachal, in those days, the only people that were participants in the competitions were ITBP(Auli), Himachal Police, WHMI, the team from HAWS (High Altitude Warfare School) Gulmarg & Team from Kufri Club.
Mountaineering institute ex-trainers
Gansham Thakur (Inst.)
I.D. Sharma (Inst.)
Nanak Suni (Inst.)
Govind Thakur (Rtd.) (Inst.)
Mr. Joginder Pal
Mr. Nanak Thakur (HPTDC)
Mr. Raj Kumar Sood (MD H.P. State Forest Corp. Ltd)
Competition was based on All India Winter Carnival at that time. People used to set up camps then and had to back pack all the way from Manali walking till Palchan and then Solang. Mountaineering Institute used to help & accommodate the skiers a lot. Due to the fame of the kids making their own ski’s, there even was a “Special on Planks Kids Country Skiing competition”.
Veteran Skiers
Sh. Jimmy Johnson
Mrs. Bala Johnson
Col. Prem Chand
Mr. Gupat Ram – Bhrigu Hotel
Mr. Tara Chand Thakur
Mr. Dharam Bir Dhami
Mr. M. C. Thakur – Arohi
Mr. Amar Chand Negi
Mr. Chhering Rashpa - retired commandant
Mr. Iqbal Sharma
Mr. Bir Singh Negi – Hotel Mayflower
Mr. Roop Chand Negi
Mr. Henry Benon
Mr. P.P. Kaistha
Mr. Dharam Chand Thakur – Sunshine Hotel Manali
Mr. Amar Nath Katoch – Aleo
Mr. Krishan Benon
Mr. Raju Benon
Mrs. Himani Thakur – Manali
Mr. Narender Sood
Mr. Duni Chand Bodh – Manali
Mr. Dharm Chand – Vashisht
Mr. Ashok Khular (Ramgarh Raison)
Mr. Naveen Thakur – Raison
Mr. Mehul Johnson
Mrs. Piya Johnson
Mrs. Davina
Mrs. Indu Anand
Mr. Ramesh Lal
Capt. Ravinder Nath – Ex. Serviceman – Lahaul Yorche
Mr. Mangat Dhani
Mr. C. D. Thomas – Manali
Dr. Jitender Thakur – Manali
Mr. Sher Singh Yamba
Mr. Pankaj Bhagirath
Mr. Gokal Chand – Old Manali
Mr. Atul Bhagirath
Mr. Joginder Pal – Manali
Mr. Nakul Khulla
Mr. Vijay Fakey
Mr. Nakul Khullar
Mr. Pritam – SASE
Mr. Uttam Chand –Sase
Mr. Padam – Mansari
Mr. Roshan Lal – Palchan
Mr. Chobe Ram – Manali (VBVIMAS)
Mr. Ran Singh (Instructor) retired
Dugalu Ram
Our Skiers on International Arena
Jagdish Lall
Roshan Lal Thakur
Jagat Ram Thakur
Murli Dhar Negi
Dola Ram
Roshan Negi
Bhag Chand Thakur
Chuni Lal
Nanak Chand
Hira Lal
Ludar Chand
Tara Chand
Santosh Kumar
Ms. Urmila Thakur
Teja Thakur
Narayan Dev
Mrs. Uma Devi
Mrs. Dicky Dolma
Ms Bhuvneshwari
Ms.Deepa Thakur
Chuni Lal - Koshla
Raj Kumar
Som Dev
Rohit Thakur
Ms. Shilpa
Kapil Thakur
Vikrant Thakur
Ms. Kirna Devi
Rajat Thakur
Himanshu Thakur
Ms. Anchal Thakur
Suresh Thakur
Chander Pal
Yogu Thakur
Surnder Kumar
Vineet Sharma
Ms. Himika Sharma
Ms. Neha Thakur
Deepak Thakur
Som Dev-Burua
T. Sampel
Khem Raj ( Shuru)
Vivek Chander
Khem Thakur ( Solang
Rashel
Mishel
Shivam Kenthala
Himanshu Sharma
Captain R Saluria
Sher Singh- Lahaul
Dig RS Negi-ITBP
Lal Chand- Shimla
Active Members
Mr Prem Lal – Ex Pradhan – Vashisht
Mr Yoga Thakur – Vashisht
Mr Ram Singh (Instructor) retired
Mr Chuni Lal – Koshla
Mr Khek Ram Negi - Koshla
Mr Sarv Dyal – Vashisht
Mr Ramesh Kumar – Vashisht
Mr Narayan Singh – Vashisht
Mr Govind Thakur – Ex WHMI
Mr Tek Ram – Ruwar
Mr Rajender Kumar – Kulang
Mr Devi Chand – Ex Pradhan Solang
Mr Gokal (Potru) – Solang
Mr Prem Chand – Ex ITBP – A B Kullu
Dr Shamsher
Mr Sher Singh – Ex ITBP
Mr Prem – Surabhi hotel
Ms Ritika Mehra
Ms Kanika Mehr
Mr Prem Thakur – Ex Instructor HAWS
Mr Norbu Pal – Lahaul
Mr Vishan Dass
Mr Prem Singh Large
Mr Roop Singh
Mr Gyalsan Thakur
Mr Surender
Mr Dinesh
Varun Mehra
Mr Ajeet
Mr Chhevang
Mr Bir Singh
Mr Sanjay
Mr Arvind
Mr Roshan
Mr Kuldeep Walia
Mr Ranjeet Rana
Mr Sanjeev Atri
Mr Inder Singh Verma
Mr Gulab Kanwar
Mr Lalit Chauhan
Mr Inder Negi
Mrs Ravni Benon
Mrs Shashi Chaudhary – Manali
Mrs Tanuja Thakur
Mr Dev Raj – Shimla
Mr Maan Chand Thakur - Thakur Hotel Manali
Mr VijayVerma – Shimla
Mr Sanjay Chandel – Shimla
Mr Ramesh Lotto – Kaza
Mr Samphel – Vashisht
Mr P T Angdu – Vashisht
Mr Padam – Mansari
Mr Soma Jagatsukh
Mr Raju Mahant – Jagatsukh
Mrs Chuki Mahant – Jagatsukh
Mr Koyalu Thakur – Burua
Mr Amar Chand
Mr Amaru – Panchayat secretary
Mr Bhagat Ram
Capt Piyare Lal
Mr Keshab – Shanag
Miss Gayatri – Shanag
Mrs Mamta – Goshal / Aleo
Mr Bhagatu – Paraglider – Burua
Mr Panna Lal – Burua
Mr Dola Ram – Old Manali
Mr Krishan – Old Manali
Mr Daya Nand – Old Manali
Mr Himanshu Sharma
Mr Sohan Lal Lambardar – Palchan
Mr Nanak – Tourism
Mr Bhola Ram – Vashisht
Mr Ashwani Acharya – Vashisht
Mr Balak Ram – Kothi
Mr Kebal Ram – Kothi
Mr Jeet Ram – Kothi
Mr Nand Lal – Kothi
Mr Singi Ram – Palchan
Mr Vivek – Vashisht
Dr Romi- Vashisht
Mr Sanjeev Sarman – Vashisht
Mr Kabir Sarman – Vashisht
Mr Saran Thakur – Mathiyana
Mr Mani Ram – Vashisht
Mr Rajender Acharya - Vashisht
Mr S R Sainy – Ex D Director WHMI
Mr Ajay Thakur – Ghurdror
Mr Ved Ram – Shanag
Mr Lal Chand – Shanag
Miss Geeta Thakur – Goshal
Mr Jeet Ram Thakur – Kulang
Mr Panna Mahant – Burua
Mrs Anju – Haripur
Mrs Usha – Shishamati – Kullu
Dr Usha – Bran
Mr Navang Karpa – Lahaul
Mr Danial – Aleo
Mr Aman Benon
Mr Bhubneshwar Gaur
Mr Sunder Thakur – Shobla
Mr Pratap Thakur Bhuntar
Ms Shaily – Lower Dhalpur
Mr Gopi Chand Himalayan Frontiers
Om Prakash - Mathiyana
Namgial Negi - Nangabag
Shashi Kiran - Banjar
Puran Thakur (Saga) - Mathiyana
Om Prakash (Avi) - Old Manali
Om Prakash - Manali
Om Prakash - Old Manali
Neel Chand - Siyal
FNamgial Negi - Nangabag
Bhumi Dev - Jagatsukh
Sohan Lal - Aleo
Som Dev - Jagatsukh
Deepak Thakur - Jagatsukh
Jitender - Fhagu
Aman Singh - Basa Banthot - Kotkhai
Rajesh Sharma - Shimla
Vishal - Balsari
Harsh Gopal - Jagatsukh
Chunni Lal - Ani
Narender Thakur (Nishu) - Goshal
Rajender Sharma - Narkanda
Mani Ram - Manali
Atma Ram - Manali
Murali Prakash - Burua
Ram Dev - Kullu
Budhi Singh - Burua
Vinod Kumar - Prini
Tara Chand - Dhamsu
Puran Chand - Old Manali
Tenzin Negi - Shaminala
Umesh Rana - Manali
Rameshwar Negi - Kinnaur
Pasang Sherpa - Junga
Lot ram Thakur - Grahan - Kullu
Inam Thakur - Mathiyana
Ramesh Thakur - Balsari
Amar Singh - Goshal
Tenzin Bodh - Prini
Ghansham - Burua
Alok Thakur - Burua
Harbans Lal - Shirar
Sushma Thakur - Siyal
Kiran Thakur - Goshal
Anita Thakur - Shanag
Radha - Ruar
Krishna - Goshal
Sheela Thakur - Vashisht
Shanti - Ruar
Bhuneshwari Devi - Burua
Sundra Negi - Pooh - Kinnaur
Asha Kaushal - Dharampur (Solan)
MissLalita - Kasol
Leela Thakur - Bhang
Padma Joshi - Old Manali
Ashok Thakur - Sural Bhatory (Pangi)
Kishori Lal - Old Manali
Chander Sen - Vashisht
Koyle Ram - Balsari
Shanti Bodh - Manali
Punam Negi - Manali
Neel chand - Hathithan
Hari Prakash - Ghordour
Panna Lal - Mathiyana
Currently, we have the local team preparing for the Olympics and the Asian winter games, visitors will get the opportunity to see these great sports people at the winter carnival proceedings here in Solang, Manali.
Opening Ceremony
We promise you an opening ceremony like no other, with a demo of what you would get to see in the coming 5 days, will consist of various activities that will linger on in your memories for a long time to come. For this year, we've geared up to give you the " All India Skiing Carnival Competition"
Hosting the Alpine Races, Men and Women, Senior Level Nordic Races, Men and Women, Senior Level Snow Board, Men and Women, Senior Level which includes various sub categories to keep you glued for the whole day filled with excitement. All of these races and levels also have the junior level with our boys and girls participating. One would get the rare opportunity to see the country's top athletes in these races who will be participating as well.
The best part is, its free of cost! there's no entry fee what so ever. All the visitors can not only check out the games but also enjoy the sport with activities available like skiing, snow biking, boarding, some joy rides like sledging and tubing as well. A lot of local stalls offering food and beverages to quench your hunger after the activities.
Clubs participating and hosting the event would be
HPWGA (Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association)
Manali Winter Sports Club
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports
And all local clubs.
Do make it a point to come to Solang and have a look at where things have come since 1977. Local transport is at an abundance and you will face no problems reaching the destination. Every thing is organised and looked after to ensure safety and ease of navigation.
For further information contact:-
HPWGA (Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association)
C/o Himalayan Adventures
Opposite Tourism Information Center, The Mall, Manali.
Tel- 01902-253050 - 252750
roopu@sancharnet.in