SHILLONG: Independent legislator from South Tura, John Leslee Sangma, has taken exception to wine festivals and singing of Hindi songs during winter festivals in Garo Hills.
Raising the issue during the Question Hour in the Assembly on Monday, Sangma pointed out that organizing wine festivals and presenting Hindi songs by singers from outside the State is against the culture and tradition of the people of Garo Hills.
According to Sangma, under intoxication, the children are seen dancing the entire night during such festivals which is against the local culture.
Without directly mentioning the gang-rape incident after the Williamnagar Winter Festival held last year, Sangma said that the incident was unfortunate.
The Independent legislator also wanted to know who decides the content of the programmes during the winter festivals.
In his reply, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said that the district level committee has been entrusted with the task of preparing the content of the programmes to add dynamism to the festivals.
He said the winter festivals are organised to provide visitors a glimpse of the culture, tradition, cuisine, handicraft of the people of the State and to foster unity and understanding of the cultural diversity of Meghalaya, apart from leveraging these as tourism products.
He said these festivals provide local people and entrepreneurs an opportunity to display and sell their products including local cuisine.
“They also generate inflow of revenue for small local shops, eating places, transport operators and hotel occupancy increases during the festivals,” he added.
The Chief Minister also said that the Government is collecting information on the expenditure involved in organizing the winter festival in different districts during 2012-13.
On the issue of under age children taking recourse to drinking during festivals, the Chief Minister said that the law enforces should check the matter.
To a supplementary question, the Chief Minister admitted that Ranikor river, which is a tourism spot, was poisoned.
He said that to promote Ranikor village as tourist destination, the department has already initiated the construction of a tourist lodge to provide accommodation to visitors.
The Government had also funded the beach festival, view points, sit outs and rain shelters overlooking Kynshi river, he added.