By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 18: An evening market will be set up at Ward’s Lake (Nan Polok) in Shillong.
The market will be open from 5-9 p.m. on all days from January 19 to March 31.
An official statement on Thursday said evening markets are a popular attraction at tourist destinations across the world and are proven to boost the local economy. The project is an initiative of the Meghalaya Tourism Department and will be implemented by Meghalayan Age Ltd.
Evening markets are different from the regular marketplace as they aim to build connections through food, arts, crafts, music, and more. While the various stalls and activities will be organized to engage and entertain guests, the deeper value of the market lies in creating a platform to showcase and encourage the local entrepreneurs, craftsmen, farmers, and artists, the statement said.
“An evening market will serve as a break from the monotony of commercialization enabling visitors to support these local entrepreneurs while spending quality time in the beautiful and peaceful surroundings of the iconic lake in the heart of the city,” it said.
Officials said the evening market will host vendors on a rotational basis giving guests a chance to interact with a variety of entrepreneurs over three months. There will also be art and photography exhibitions along with other curated experiences to promote the vast pool of talent within the state.
Apart from the indigenous food and wine stalls, the evening market will also be a place for trade and commerce with a farmer’s market selling organic produce, and processed agricultural produce such as spices, pickles, and beverages apart from craft stalls selling handmade goods.
“Since the holiday season is still upon us, parents can bring their children to the evening marketplace that will have a dedicated kid’s play zone and experiences set up for them. Music will set the mood for each evening and will be presented by Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (MGMP) which has brought out several talented artists from the state,” the statement said.
The evening market would be open to all and tickets would be available at Ward’s Lake Gate 2 and 3 for Rs 100 per person.
Entry is free for children below 10 years. The proceeds from each week’s ticket sales will be donated to noteworthy organizations and institutions, officials said.