By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Traditional fete will be an added attraction of this year’s Shillong Autumn Festival staring from November 4.
“The tradition of holding of fete has been there for ages in our State,” MTDF chairman RG Lyngdoh told reporters here on Monday.
He informed that they would be organizing fetes and festivities at Shillong Club ground on the inaugural day of the festival.
“We are contemplating to make it bigger in next year by hold fetes in different parts of the localities in the city,” MTDF chairman said.
It may be recalled that during the 80’s and early 90’s, holding of fetes used to be a common event among the different localities especially during the winter season.
The major attraction of these fetes would be a musical night where people would get the opportunity to witness the performance of popular local bands.
Lyngdoh informed that the MTDF is also planning to rope in TV channels like Fashion TV and MTV to cover this year’s three-day events.
Replying to a query, he said they would request Fashion TV to cover the fashion show where designers from the region would be showcasing their various creations.
Interestingly, the MTDF for the first time has decided to declare the concluding day of the event as ‘family day’.
“We have decided to declare the final day as the family day. There would be no hard beverages being serve at the venue on the concluding day,” Lyngdoh said.
The festival would kick off with the Shillong Street Carnival involving localities, schools and colleges besides cultural troupes of the eight States of the region on November 4.
The carnival would start from Khyndai Lad and move through various parts of the city before culminating on the Shillong Club premises. “The best participants in the carnival would be given a prize money of Rs. 50,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 20000,” he said while adding that the theme for the Carnival Parade will be “Shillong”.
The event 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.
While reacting to a query, Lyngdoh said “the State Government has come in a big way to support this year’s event”.
“The total estimated cost for the project is between Rs 75 to Rs 80 lakh,” MTDF chairman added.
NCP flays MTDF: Meanwhile, the State Youth NCP has criticised the MTDF for organizing the concluding day’s programme of this year Shillong Autumn Festival on a Sunday.”We are really surprised by this decision of the MTDF. We feel that they should have avoided it this time since last year they were forced to revert their decision of organising the festival on a Sunday following opposition from various sections of the society,” State Youth NCP working president Clifford M Nengnong said on Monday. Nengnong further said that the organization was going to meet Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Akash Deep requesting him not to give permission for holding the festival on SundayIt may be recalled the State Youth president last year had also spearheaded the movement to oppose this decision of the MTDF.