HT Bureau
NEW DELHI, Dec 25: The 11th edition of the North East Festival that drew hordes of Delhiites and people of the Northeastern region living in the Delhi-NCR came to a close on late Sunday night.
The three-day festival that showcased the region’s rich culture, its sumptuous cuisine, and its artistic prowess at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi was inaugurated by Union minister of state for external affairs and culture, Meenakshi Lekhi on December 22.
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Several popular artistes from the Northeast including Assam’s heartthrob Zubeen Garg, singer Papon, Nepali rock band from Sikkim ‘Girish and The Chronicles’ and actor-singer Shruti Haasan and her alternative rock band enthralled the audience with their melodies.
As many as 300 folk artists, a Meitei martial arts showcase, a doodle art masterclass by artist Santanu Hazarika, and a North East Rock Battle also added to the splendour of the cultural extravaganza.
‘‘Delhi holds a special place in our hearts, and the city’s warmth has always been overwhelming. The North East Festival has evolved into a symbol of identity for the people of the Northeast. With this edition, we got a greater footfall, marking another milestone in our journey,’’ Shyamkanu Mahanta, chief organiser of North East Festival said.
The event also included a tourism B2B meet and a similar meeting with the textile and food processing sector. The exhibition arena hosted over 100 MSME entrepreneurs presenting ‘Made in North East’ products, giving visitors a great chance to explore and purchase authentic items. With as many as 150 stalls, the exhibition promoted a wide array of agri-horti products, handloom, handicrafts, and processed food. Apart from a Christmas special bazaar, showcasing northeastern crafts, the festival also featured local fabrics and designs from the region.
The organisers felicitated three journalists, CK Nayak, Kallol Bhaumik and Pranjal Pratim Das for their outstanding contributions in projecting the northeastern region in proper perspectives to the rest of the world.
