Agra, Feb 20 : The 10-day annual festival, "Taj Mahotsav", dedicated to promotion of art and crafts and celebration of local heritage and culture, commenced at the Shilpgram, near Agra on Thursday.

On Friday, the second day, Popular Sufi singer Kailash Kher enchanted the audience during the on-going `Taj Mahotsava 2009' here.

Organised by Uttar Pradesh Tourism, the Taj Mahotsav 2009, started on February 18 and will last till February 27.

Taj Mahotsav is an annual fest is held at Shilpgram, a village dedicated to arts and crafts.

Munna Bhai aka the Bollywood actor and Samajwadi nominee from Lucknow Lok Sabha seat, Sanjay Dutt on Wednesday started his poll campaign by visiting the members of a family that had given shelter to his father Sunil Dutt, 60 years back.

Accompanied by wife Manyata and SP leader Amar Singh, Sanjay Dutt said, “Being here and with this family is bit nostalgic for me. I am feeling happy.”

Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), Feb 19 : Muslim clerics have come out in a big way to fight against polio in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.

Health authorities say Muslims are apprehensive about administering polio drops to children because of some unfounded concerns.

They used an annual religious procession to convey messages on polio eradication with the help of banners and exhorted people to join the fight against the scourge.

The procession was named as ''Saabri Jhanda Jalus ir''.

Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) is all set to add another feather to its cap.

For the purpose of assembling information regarding flood, drought and disaster management, the IIT-K, in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed a micro satellite named as ‘Jugnu’.

Allahabad, Feb 17 : Career prospects in politics do not seem to appeal to former Indian cricket skipper Sourav Ganguly.

Dona Ganguly, Sourav''s wife, who was in Allahabad to attend a dance show on Tuesday, said she was approached by some politician in Lucknow inviting her husband to contest from Uttar Pradesh.

Dona could not name the political party that approached Sourav. Unable to remember the details, she said, "Such offers keep coming... I don''t remember who was it... I think it was Samajwadi Party."

Agra, Feb 17 : Preparations are on in full swing for the "Taj Mahotsav", the ten-day annual festival at Shilpgram near the Taj Mahal.

Bedecked elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen together would recreate the glorious past of the Mughal era ambiance during the carnival that kick starts every year on February 18.

The Taj Mahotsav will display the country''s extensive arts, crafts and culture besides folk music, and classical dance performances as well as elephant and camel rides, games and a food festival, all forming part of the festivities.