By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Shillong Autumn Festival this would showcase the rich cultural traditional of the North Eastern Region.
Keeping in mind this year’s theme ‘Experiencing the North East’, the festival shall act as the rallying point to create awareness, a place to expose and sell natural/ethnic products of the State and the Northeast in general.
The festival will kick off with the Shillong Street Carnival involving localities , schools and colleges besides cultural troupes of the eight states of the North East on November 4.
The festival would then shift to Orchid Lake Resort, Umiam on November 5 and 6. The North East Cultural Extravaganza showcasing Manipuri Krishna Ballet, Pong Cholam & Thang-Ta Martial arts would be organised at the resort.
Other performances will include the sensual Hojaigiri Dance from Tripura, Snow Lion dance from Sikkim and traditional games from Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland and Garo and Khasi drummers .
The Government is contemplating to make this year’s festival as the biggest ever event in the State.
“‘I promise to make the event a grand one this year,” Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma told reporters on Tuesday.
Besides this festival, he said, the Government would soon be coming up with a calendar of all the festivals taking place throughout the year.
Briefing about the festival, Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) Larsing M Sawian said that the North East can boast of having as many as 166 tribes and sub tribes and a myriad of cultural institutions and what better way to showcase the creative potential of its cultural institutions in the festival.
“The geographical location of Shillong and its demographic set up has given it the advantage of staging such a festival that showcases the rich culture of the North East,” he said.
Larsing also urged upon the schools and colleges including general public to come out and participate in the street carnival.
“The best participants in the carnival would be with a prize money of Rs. 50000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 20000,” MTDF president said while adding that the theme for the Carnival Parade will be ”Shillong”.
He also said that the festival would attempts to showcase the diverse culture, cuisine and products of the North East Region under one roof.
“It will re-create a melting pot and an atmosphere that reflects the natural beauty, culture and traditional products of the NE all in one venue and give the visitor a taste of the North East in a three-day festival,” Larsing added.
Other attraction of the event also includes entertainment in the form of Adventure Sports, Fashion and Music. This year visitors will witness never before seen Acro Flights at Umiam by Ace Paraglider Pilots from France.
A fashion show by eminent designers and models of the North East with big names like Bonney ONNEY Darrang from Arunachal Pradesh, Nandini from Assam, Daisy Momin from Tura and Keds from Nagaland confirming their participation.
The 5th & 6th will also feature prominent bands & musicians from the region & country at Orchid Lake Resort . Big Bands like Shaiir ‘n’ funk (whose s vocalist featured in the movie Dhobi Ghat which was produced by Amir Khan), Raghu Dixt, Reuben Mashangvaand will be performing along with homegrown bands, 4th Element, Street Stories and Dossers Urge and others.