Press Release

Sikkim participates in the Destination North-East at Varanasi, UP

Information & Public Relations Department

Date: 30-Nov-2019

Gangtok, 30 Nov (IPR): Four-daylong “Destination North East Festival” showcasing art, culture, cuisine, handicrafts and handlooms of North Eastern region of India was held in the city of Varanasi, the Spiritual Capital of India from 23-26 Nov, 2019.

Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated the “Destination North East Festival” at IIT-BHU grounds in Varanasi.

A press release informs that the idea of organizing such events is to bring the rest of India closer to North East and to have experience of rich culture of the North East region of India.

The “Destination North East 2019” was aimed at providing live experience to the audience. All eight States from the North East participated in the festival showcasing their handicrafts, handloom, organic products and cultural troupes.

The event also held a special presentation of art and craft, textiles, ethnic products, tourism promotion etc of the eight northeastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

The opening day of the festival was also attended by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Mizoram, Shri P.U. Zoramthanga, Secretary (DoNER), Dr. InderJit Singh, and Secretary (NEC), Shri K. Moses Chalai, Cricketer, Shri R.P. Singh, BHU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rakesh Bhatnagar, DG (Assam Rifles), Lt. Gen Sukhdeep Sangwan, NEC Member, Shri Biman Dutta, along with Bollywood actors, Zeenat Aman and Govinda and others.

Renowned band Shillong Chamber Choir, singers Papon, Sourabhee Debbarma, Borkung Hrangkhawl and Rekha Bhardwaj were some of the lending voices who performed at the festival.

Hon’ble Minister for DoNER in his address said, “Development of North East is on government’s priority after Shri Narendra Modi took charge as Prime Minister. The PM himself has visited NE more than 30 times during his first term. The development of all peripheral states is important for India to grow in a harmonious manner. Young entrepreneurs are also travelling to northeast to explore new avenues.”

The Minister also mentioned about venture fund for start-ups and Bamboo Park being set up in Assam.

A business-to-business session was scheduled during the event for people of business communities to explore opportunities in NE States.

Indigenous games were performed by the States where visitors actively participated. Live kitchens with recipes from NE and Uttar Pradesh served ethnic delicacies throughout the event.

Visitors to this festival had live experience of the artisans and artistes from the Northeast working on their looms and crafts, performing their songs and dances in the open stage, the release informs.

A delegation from Sikkim was led by Additional Director, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Shri Madan Kumar Pradhan, and representatives from Culture & Heritage Affairs Department, Commerce & Industries Department and stakeholders from Sikkim. The Sikkim Tourism stall was decked in a traditional style which gained huge appreciation from the visitors.

The Hon’ble Minister for DoNER, Shri Jitendra Singh, and other dignitaries were accorded with warm welcome at Sikkim stall with the offering of khadas and brochures. The visitors uttered huge words of appreciation about Sikkim and expressed their keen desire to visit Sikkim.

The Yak dance and Singi dance from Sikkim drew huge applause and attention of the visitors and co-exhibitors during the festival. Visitors threw their feet on stage out of ecstasy when cultural team from Sikkim put up their shows.

The final day of the event concluded with a colorful cultural show at IIT-BHU ground on 26 Nov. The closing ceremony was attended by Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Shri Rameshwar Teli. The previous edition of Destination North-East was held in Delhi and Chandigarh.