Shimla: Khichdi, a serving of beans and rice,  weighing 1995 kilogram prepared by Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation Department of Himachal Pradesh entered in the Guinness Book of World Records on Tuesday at Tattapani in Mandi district.
The earlier record under this title was 918.8 kg, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced while addressing a gathering on the occasion of Tattapani Tourism Festival in Karsog area of Mandi district on Makar Sakranti.
Thakur appreciated the Department of Tourism for succeeding in their mission of cooking Khichdi of such volume. He said that the Department has broken a record set earlier with a huge margin of about 1000 kg.
He said that due to construction of Koldam, the area has emerged as a major water sports destination of the State. The Chief Minister said that Tattapani would be developed from tourism point of view as the area has immense potential of water sports.
President of Durga Devi Behari Lal Trust Ramesh Sood also welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion.
Director Tourism and Aviation, Yunus said that the utensil used for cooking the Khichdi was 7x4 feet in radius and this attempt was aimed at bringing Tattapani on world tourism map.  
Adjudicator of Guinness World Record announced that the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation has set a World record by cooking 1995 kg Khichdi in a single utensil.
The Chief Minister also inspected the Water Sports Activity Demonstration and flagged off Tourism Circuit Bus of HRTC. He also enjoyed the ride of water jetty on the occasion.
Thousands take dip in Himachal rivers on Makar Sankranti

PEOPLE DEFY WINTER CHILL, THRONG RIVERS FOR BATH

Braving the winter chill, thousands of devotees across Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday took holy dips in rivers to mark Makar Sankranti.
Since early morning the devotees were seen congregating at Tattapani, 55 km from the state capital, and Manikaran, home to a Sikh shrine in Kullu district, for holy dips in the Satluj and Parvati rivers respectively.
Tattapani and Manikaran are known for hot water springs with high sulphur concentration.
The natural and prominent hot springs, which disappeared after the construction of the 800 MW Koldam hydroelectric power project executed by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) along the Satluj in Tattapani, have been restored. Its reservoir had submerged the hot springs.
The devotees also visited Vashist temple, located on the outskirts of the popular tourist resort Manali. The temple is situated on the left bank of Beas river, also known for its hot springs.