From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: With insurgency on the wane, promotion of torism and adventure sports has become the top priority area in the pictureque Dima Hasao (erstwhile North Cachar Hills) district in Assam.
After the successful conduct of the Jatinga Festival 2010 last year, the 2nd edition of the same will be held this year from October 19 to 24 in the hill district that was a hotbed of insurgency till a couple of years back. The festival is being organised with a view to promote eco-tourism as well as showcasing the art and craft, music and dance, culture and cuisine of the various ethnic groups of the district inhabited by ethnic groups like Dimasa, Hmar, Baite, Kuki, Karbi etc.
Bird watching, Trekking to the Hempeupet Peak, Behendao Baiglai Waterfalls, Prize Money Angling Competition at Dihangi etc. will be the highlights of this years festival.
The angling competition will be held on October 22 and 23 along the Diyung River at Dihangi and is inclusive of both bank and boat fishing. Golden Masheer (Dimasa name – Nayung), Chocolate Masheer (Nasur) etc. are some of the fish species found abundantly in the stretch of the River.
Hysteria Beat Contest for young generation and music lovers, Boat Race Competition along the Diyung River at Dihangi, Ethnic Cuisine for food enthusiasts, Flower show on the Boat House of the Haflong Lake, Exhibition on Art & Craft etc. apart from sight-seeing of the beautiful and exotic locations, are on the programme list of this edition of the Jatinga Festival.
For adventurous tourists, tented arrangements are being made at a vantage point of Jatinga from where one can enjoy the scenic beauty of the surroundings and watch birds during the nights. Guns have been silent in the district since peace initiatuve was underteken with various insurgent groups including both factions of the Dima Halam Daogah led by Dilip Nunisa and Jewel Garlosa. There was a mass surrender by over 400 armed cadres of DHD (Jewel Garlsa) on October 2, 2009. The Nunisa faction of the DHD had already been in truce and engaged in peace rocess with Government of India.