NONGSTOIN: The two-day Nongkhnum Spring Break Festival 2016 organised jointly by the Apple Society and District Arts and Culture Society concluded on March 19.
The festival witnessed over thousands of people flocking the second largest river island in Asia only after Majuli Island in Assam.
Despite the extremely bad road to the venue island, people not only from Meghalaya but from all over India and abroad participated in the celebration.
The fest included programmes like auto cross, off road, beach football, baby show, horse-racing competition, Miss Nongstoin, battle of the band, Rice beer drinking competition, bamboo climbing and cultural items among many others.
The Beach football event was won by the Seng Samla Diliengngiem of Nongstoin who beat Upper New Nongstoin at the finals.
The auto-cross and off -road drew a lot of attention at the fest. Larry Mukhim of Shillong enthralled the audience with his skills of driving and had them spellbound with his matchless feats.
He was adjudged the winner in the auto cross competition, while Shanker from Shillong was the winner of off-road event.
The battle of the bands witnessed participation by 17 professional bands from all over the state. Lynx from Jowai bagged the 1st prize in the event.
Miss Nongstoin saw the participation of 14 contestants from around West Khasi Hills where Marbeth Wahlang from Upper New Nongstoin was adjudged as the winner.
Food stalls showcasing indigenous food items were also put up. Also available at the venue was an indigenous wine stall with wine made from grapes, ginger, beetroot and pineapple among others.
The fest, the first of its kind in the state to witness participation of thousands of people could be the biggest festival in the state in terms of audience. Many people of the district at the fest said “Finally we have something to show to the world”.
West Khasi Hills District does not have a hotel for tourists and the govt owned lodges were filled with participants of the fest.
