By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In accordance with the theme for this year’s Shillong Autumn Festival – Environment and Culture for Tourism – the Meghalaya Tourism Development forum (MTDF) would be spreading the message on the need to protect the environment among the citizens of the Stats through various events planned for the Festival.
The MTDF is planning to organise a 5-mile ‘Green Walkathon’ as a community event with an environmental cause where school students and enthusiast from other institutions would be encouraged to participate.
“During the event, participants will be encouraged to display costumes and fancy dress or placards that highlights environmental issues that they care for,” MTDF member Aiban Mawkroh said at a press conference here on Monday. In order to create awareness about the degeneration of the environment, the pits stops (fluid stations) along the route for the Walkathon will display posters and messages that would highlight various aspects that lead to degeneration of the environment like air pollution, garbage management, random mining and neglect of the heritage structures among others.
MTDF spokesperson RG Lyngdoh said the Forum is attempting to create awareness among the people on the need to protect the environment through this year’s Festival.
“We hope this small initiative of the MTDF would help to change the mindset of the people towards issues concerning the environment,” Lyngdoh added.
Meanwhile, MTDF member Larsing M Sawian said the main event of this year’s Autumn Festival would be held at Orchid Lake Resort, Umiam on November 3 and 4.
He said that this year they have tried to focus on the musical groups and bands which are from the State besides inviting bands from other parts of the country.
The Shillong Chamber Choir would be performing on the first day of the event, Sawian said, adding that Aroha Choir Group and Na La Rympei would also be performing at the Festival.
Besides Lou Majaw and Soulmate, two groups who have been recently nominated for the MTV Awards (Alobo Naga from Nagaland and Menwhopause from Delhi) would also feature at the Festival, Sawian informed.
The Festival as always will showcase a variety of brews and dishes of the North East, the MTDF informed.
It may be mentioned that as a curtain raiser to the Shillong Autumn Festival, MTDF is organising the first-ever ‘Shillong Half Marathon – For a Greener Tomorrow’ on October 27 to be flagged off from Madan Iewrynghep (Fire Brigade) at 7 am.
The event ambassador for the half marathon is Bining Lyngkhoi who has represented India in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.