From Our Correspondent
JOWAI, Aug 2: Union Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Sukanta Majumdar, has agreed to attend the Behdienkhlam Festival in Mukhla on August 31, as the chief guest.
This was announced during a press briefing by the Behdienkhlam Joint Committee, representing six Sein Raij, namely Mukhla, Lalong, Tuber, Muthlong, Sohkymphor and Chyrmang.
According to the committee convener Phrangki Pale, this marks the first time a Union Minister will witness the Behdienkhlam festival in a rural setting.
Pale said the minister’s visit would significantly boost national visibility for the festival, particularly in West Bengal, from where a large number of tourists visit Meghalaya.
He said it was a proud moment for the six Sein Raij that the Union MoS had accepted their invitation to attend the Mukhla Behdienkhlam Festival.
Meanwhile, the committee also announced its plan to launch an annual festival calendar to help tourists better plan their visits and urged the state government to do more to promote Jaintia cultural events.
It further appealed for support from local authorities and the public to ensure the success of the event.
In addition to attending the festival, Dr Majumdar has also been invited to inaugurate a Rs 1.93 crore cultural infrastructure project funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC).