Joziah Ryan K Lyngdoh attends the sixth edition of Winter Tales, capturing the spirit of weaves and crafts unfolding at the picturesque Wards Lake.
Five winters ago, the idea of an eco-friendly festival by the lake seemed like a gentle experiment: small, hopeful, almost fragile. However, Winter Tales had something powerful at its core: a belief that celebration could coexist with care. So, year after year, like a sapling taking root, it grew into something far more significant than its humble beginnings.
A Milestone Year: Celebrating Six Years of Winter Tales
This year, Winter Tales returned to Ward’s Lake not just as a festival, but as a milestone: five years of nurturing community, creativity, and the earth itself. Organised by The Meghalayan Age Limited, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and lovingly curated by Dakti, the festival has blossomed into a gathering that feels both festive and purposeful, vibrant yet mindful. Its success lies in the seamless blend of culture, sustainability, and community engagement, offering visitors a model of how celebration can be meaningful without harming the environment.
Themed ‘Nurture’
The theme for this year, ‘Nurture’, flows through the venue like a quiet heartbeat. It speaks of caring for nature, celebrating culture, and strengthening communities. From Garo Hills Jaintia Hills and to Khasi Hills, creators answered the call, bringing their talents, crafts, and culinary delights to share with the public. Each stall, installation, and performance serves as a reminder that mindfulness and festivity are not mutually exclusive; they can coexist beautifully.
Sustainable Stalls and Artisanal Crafts
Walking along the pathways, visitors are greeted by stalls constructed from bamboo, jute, and other sustainable materials. Artisans mould clay into pottery, weave cane into baskets, paint their stories in vivid colours, and sculpt objects that are as functional as they are artistic. Visitors move slowly, almost reverently, pausing to watch a craftsman at work, a storyteller preparing their next session, or a musician tuning their instrument. Ward’s Lake seems to respond in kind, shimmering peacefully, reflecting the vibrancy of the festival while holding all this creativity close.
Among the many whose journey has grown alongside Winter Tales is Dial Muktieh, the soft-spoken owner of Mei-Ramew Café. She recalls the first year she participated in 2022, standing nervously behind a small stall displaying her organic dishes, all prepared with ingredients grown in her own village. Four years later, she returns to Winter Tales with confidence and gratitude. Tourists who first tasted her food at the festival now make their way to her café in Khweng. “This place changed everything,” she says, smiling warmly. Her commitment to organic, locally sourced ingredients aligns seamlessly with the festival’s ethos, creating a bond of trust with visitors that extends far beyond the event itself.
A few stalls away stands Ferdinand Lyngdoh Marshillong, the creative mind behind Ekanbha, a brand renowned for intricately handmade designer bags and home décor. Hearing-impaired but unstoppable, Ferdinand has transformed Ekanbha into more than just a business; it is a space of empowerment. Individuals with disabilities are offered meaningful employment and skill-building opportunities, proving that craft and social impact can go hand in hand. Observing his team, one realises that the festival nurtures more than artistry; it nurtures dignity, inclusivity, and confidence.
Green Santa: A Symbol of Sustainability
And then there is the festival’s most magical visitor: the Green Santa Claus. Dressed in emerald instead of the traditional red, he moves joyfully through the crowds alongside Mrs Claus and a troop of cheerful elves. Children tug at his sleeves, curious about this unusual twist on a familiar figure. “Red is nice,” he tells them gently, “but green is kinder to the earth.” His presence brings laughter, smiles, and a playful reminder of the festival’s commitment to sustainability. For many visitors, the Green Santa becomes the symbol of Winter Tales’ philosophy: that fun and environmental consciousness can exist side by side.
Performances and Interactive Workshops
The festival’s charm continues in the performances and interactive sessions scattered across the lakeside. Content creator Paduh Aki captures lively moments for his followers, while the Shillong Cosplay Community poses with excited fans, creating an atmosphere of celebration and creativity. The workshop stage hosts discussions that feel more like communal storytelling than formal lectures; topics include nutrition, cultural heritage, waste management, and the intersections of tradition and modernity. Visitors are encouraged to participate, ask questions, and explore, making every moment an immersive learning experience.
The Inaugural Go Green Awards
This year also saw the first-ever Go Green Awards, recognising individuals and organisations making notable contributions to sustainability. When Nicholas J. Kharnami received the Green Ambassador Award, the applause felt like a collective commitment to protecting the environment. Other awardees including Iaineshkhem SHG, the Eco Club of LEADS Higher Secondary School, and Joshua Rayner Lyngdoh stood proud as their contributions to recycling, sustainable practices, and environmental awareness were celebrated on stage.
Evening Performances
As night fell, the lakeside came alive with music. Voices rose, guitars strummed, and rhythms echoed over the water. Performances by Sur Na Nongkyndong, Jameer & Mel, Echora, Kata Nisa, and Dub Fader transformed the venue into a space where strangers become companions, and where music wove the crowd together in shared joy. Other acts, including Larger Than 90, Ahaia The Band, Soul Groove, Maya Lyngdoh, Blue Temptations, and Khasi Bloodz, kept the energy flowing well into the evening.
Food, Family, & Festive Atmosphere
Families gathered around food stalls fragrant with smoke and spices, friends posed under lantern-lit trees, and tourists marvelled at the harmony of culture and nature. Many visitors experiencing Ward’s Lake in its festival mode for the first time whispered, “I’ve never felt anything quite like this.” And perhaps that is the quiet magic of Winter Tales: it does not try to dazzle or overwhelm. Instead, it invites visitors to slow down, breathe, and celebrate with intention.
Festival that Nurtures Community
Six years on, Winter Tales stands as a gentle revolution, a testament to the possibility of joyous, mindful celebration. It nurtures artists, entrepreneurs, communities, and conversations, while inspiring everyone who attends to imagine a kinder, more sustainable world. And as the lights shimmer on Ward’s Lake, one realises that sustainability here is not a theme, it is alive, woven into music, craft, food, and the very air people breathe together.
Winter Tales continues to grow, beautifully and responsibly, a festival that nurtures not only culture and creativity, but the collective spirit of a community committed to celebrating with care.
