Delhi:  Senior Photo Journalist Naresh Sharma has been awarded with Jammu and Kashmir state award for best photograph on state heritage and culture. Recipient of various awards, Naresh Sharma got the award from Rashmi Singh, Commissioner, State Taxes, J&K Government, at a function held at Jammu.

This award for the three best photographs related to the state heritage was established by the Department of Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir. Interestingly, Naresh had also won the inaugural competition in 2002. This award was the part of the ‘Sabse Bada Ghumakkar Photography Competition’ organised by Directorate of Tourism, Jammu under the aegis of Department of Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir Government.

Naresh Sharma hails from Delhi and has worked on various national and international projects. Some of his pictures were part of the Delhi Government campaigns. He received an award from Rashmi Singh, Commissioner, State Taxes at a function held at Jammu. A citation and a cash prize of Rs. 15, 000 was presented to him.

Vivekanand Rai, Director Tourism Jammu and Sunaina Sharma, Joint Director, J&K Tourism and other dignitaries were present in the function. The Garba and Dandiya night function was organised by Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department in collaboration with District Administration Jammu at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Govt PG College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, as a part of Navratri celebrations.

Vivekanand Rai, Director, Tourism, Jammu highlighted the achievements of Naresh Sharma in the field of photography. Naresh Sharma had worked in J&K for over 5 years and had covered terrorism, political and other major events. He also highlighted the initiative by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and said that  Dandiya night is being held and Navratri is being celebrated in the Union Territory.

Sunaina Sharma, Joint Director, J&K Tourism also praised the picture clicked by Naresh Sharma which depicts culture and heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. While congratulating Naresh Sharma, she recalled the posting of Naresh Sharma in Jammu with the Indian Express.
On the occasion Deepak Thakur from Doda was conferred with second prize of Rs 10,000 while Irfan Choudhary from Poonch got third prize of Rs 5000.