North East festival inaugurated in Delhi, promises to strengthen startup ecosystem | Popgen Tech

GUWAHATI:

Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Narayan Rane inaugurated the 10th edition of the North East Festival at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on December 23.

Inaugurating the festival, Rane said, “The main objective of this festival organized in Delhi is to showcase the best cultural resources of the Northeast and act as an attractive gateway for the outstanding talent of the region.”

He said that there is an emerging startup culture in the northeast, and we feel that they should take maximum advantage of technology to strengthen their business.

Day one of the popular stage saw Sattriya by Dr Bani Bora and Team, Rikahampada Dance from Arunachal Pradesh, Cheraw Dance from Mizoram and Tamang Selo Dance from Sikkim the biggest attraction was the performance of Bihu by children.

The first seven editions were organized from 2013 to 2019 respectively at IGNCA, Janpath, New Delhi. The last two editions were held in Guwahati, in a hybrid model, due to the rise in COVID cases in the national capital.

Since its inception in 2013, this festival has contributed greatly to boosting tourism in the northeastern states.

The 2022 edition has a series of colorful dance dramas, musical performances, fashion shows, open-mic sessions, interactive sessions, art and photography exhibitions and much more. A North East Rock Battle will be organized with top rock bands from across India vying for the title.

As many as 50 food stalls will showcase various cuisines not only from Northeast India but across Delhi-NCR to promote awareness and cultural exchange.

An exhibition showcasing ‘Made in North East’ products, there will be an MSME zone, where more than 100 MSME entrepreneurs of North East India will showcase agri-horticulture products, handlooms, handicrafts, processed food products and more. Organizers said: “Dozens of stalls will be set up for this exhibition to create a market where visitors can explore and buy authentic products from the region. In addition, tourist stalls will be set up to promote popular places and fairs in the region.

A B2B tourism meeting will be organized where stakeholders from the Northeast will interact with tourism leaders. Director General, Tourism, Govt.of India, GK Vardhana Rao will grace the occasion. A B2B meet on Agriculture will also be organized by APEDA where agro entrepreneurs from the North East will get the chance to interact with important buyers from Delhi-NCR.

A cultural extravaganza showcasing folk dances from eight North-Eastern states, including Satriya dance, Naga folk dance, Manipuri martial arts, Bamboo dance, Tamang Selo dance from Sikkim, Rikhampada dance from Arunachal Pradesh, to name just a few, will be inaugurated by Governor of Assam and Nagaland, Prof.Jagdish Mukhi and Governor of Mizoram, Dr. Hari Banu Kambhampati. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Piyush Goel and Secretary, North East Council, K Moses Chalai will also be present.

Popular bands like Klanzan, Khanzaadi, Flying Cupid, Serpants of Pakhangba, Traffic Jam, When Chai Met Toast, Terrace Effect, Sangpoispo and singing sensation Zubeen Garg, Teri Miko, Thana Chake, Jessie Lyngdoh, Achurjya Barpatra, Bipul Chettri and The Traveling Band . will rock the scene.

Fashion designers Meghali Das and Arbin Tonjam will wear their haute couture ensembles to be worn by the top models, who will walk the ramp to the accompaniment of the electric fusion of folk music and rock. Collections from fashion brands like Maxwell, Baru, Rosemary, Adriana, Sampriti Goswami will be on display.

A booklet titled ‘Know your Northeast’ will be released by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Navigation and AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal in the presence of Mizoram Governor, Dr. Kambhampati, Secretary, DoNER, Lok Ranjan, Secretary, Culture, Governor. of India, Govind Mohan and Commissioner of Police, Delhi, Sanjay Arora. This book is planned to be distributed more in schools and universities to educate and inspire people to explore and identify the rich heritage of the region.

The event will conclude on December 26 with the Union Minister for Tourism and DoNER, G.Kishan Reddy, who will grace the valedictory session.

Chief Organizer of the Northeast Festival, Shyamkanu Mahanta said, “After two years of closure, we are happy to be back in our favorite place, Delhi, the city that has always showered us with so much love.”

“As the name goes, North East Festival – Connecting people to celebrate life – is a festival that quintessentially celebrates the inherent beauty, diversity, and integrity of North East India. The USP of this festival is the way we integrate elements of social cohesion, cultural heritage, and well-being seamless economy, making it a truly immersive experience for everyone.”

Mahanta further said that the annual event in the national capital could sensitize people about the region vis-a-vis the need to recognize and respect its rich and diverse heritage.

“Now people know about our culture and traditions, and this has helped to reduce racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia – major problems faced by people in the North East. This time around, we have chosen a bigger venue, so expect a bigger crowd of visitors,” the Chief Organizer quips.