Silchar, Sept. 29: Lengpui mini sports complex, an hour's drive from Aizawl, is all set to host an anthurium festival from Thursday.

Unlike in previous years when the festival used to be celebrated at Reiek on the western fringes of Aizawl, this time the Mizoram government chose Lengpui sports complex as the venue for the biggest festival of the state considering the increasing number of people who throng it every year.

The three-day festival will comprise exhibition of flowers, handicrafts, vegetables and bamboo-made products, besides cultural events.

Tourism officer Rachel today said the festival is being organised by the Mizoram tourism department under the aegis of Union tourism ministry. "The preparations are done and the stage is all set," she said, adding: "Mizoram has the highest production of anthurium flowers. We export it not only to other states but also abroad. Anthuriums are eye-catching and mainly used for house decorations." She said nearly 65-70 home-grown anthuriums would be displayed at the event.

The festival is celebrated every year in the third week of September. "But because of rain we had to postpone the festival to Thursday," she said.

Other attractions include promotion of folk music, tribal dance and traditional games. Display of traditional attire of the different tribes of Mizoram is one of the highlights of the festival. The second day of the event will witness the Anthurium Musical Extravaganza in which bands from various corners of the state will participate. Mizoram governor Nirbhay Sharma will inaugurate the festival, which will conclude on Saturday.

This year, Mizoram Bamboo Day will also be celebrated on Thursday at the same venue. The officials of the anthurium festival organising committee said today that several varieties of bamboo-made products will be on display.