Guwahati, Aug. 27: Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu today showcased the frontier state as one of the most compelling holiday destinations in India in a bid to woo tourists at the daylong Songs and Dances of North East 2016 festival held at Vashi in Navi Mumbai.
Welcoming everyone to the festival, Khandu, in his speech during the inaugural function, said the event was a great opportunity for the people of western India, especially Mumbai, to know about and understand the cultures of the Northeast and a step towards national integration.
Songs and Dances of North East 2016 is being organised jointly by the government of Arunachal Pradesh and North East Council (NEC) and the DoNER ministry.
"Arunachal Pradesh, the land of the rising sun, is perched in the northeastern tip of India and is one of the most compelling holiday destinations in the country. This remotest northeastern state entices the adventurer with its picturesque Himalayan landscapes, snow-capped peaks crisscrossed by mighty rivers and pristine mountain streams," Khandu said while hailing India's unity-in-diversity strength.
Since taking over as the chief minister on July 17, Khandu has been taking steps to attract investment and tourists to the underdeveloped but naturally-endowed state that shares its border with China, Myanmar and Bhutan.
Yesterday, he had met the Union minister of state for culture and tourism Mahesh Sarma in Delhi for promotion of tourism in Arunachal Pradesh.
The inaugural function of the festival was also attended by Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju and Maharashtra education and art & culture minister Vinod Tawde.
Conceptualised and designed by the NEC, this event aims to bind together the diverse culture and heritage of the Northeast on a common platform and connect it with the rest of India. It began in the year 2015 and is held by rotation in different parts of the country as part of a series of events planned by the NEC and DoNER.
The first edition of the festival was hosted by Meghalaya and held in Delhi.
Highlighting the Northeast as one of the most ethnically diverse regions of the nation, Khandu said the "God-gifted" region is well-endowed in terms of natural beauty - Himalayan landscape, beautiful and fertile valleys, rich flora and fauna, mighty rivers and pristine lakes.
The region also boasts of rich heritage as evident from Rang Ghar of Sivasagar, Assam, Tawang Monastery of Arunachal Pradesh, Kangla Fort in Imphal, Manipur, and Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala, Tripura. The Northeast is a destination unexplored, he said.
Popular folk dances such as Oki Soyim of Nagaland, Cheraw of Mizoram, Wangala of Meghalaya, Cham of Sikkim, Lai Haraoba of Manipur, Hojagiri of Tripura and Bagurumba of Assam were performed during the festival.
Arunachal's Buya dance of the Nyishis, peacock dance of Khamptis, Erap of Galos and Pakhu-Itu of Apatanis were showcased. Apart from folk dances, the best of northeastern folk fusion and contemporary musical bands, arts and handicrafts have been exhibited at the festival.
Rijiju, who was the chief guest, said the Centre is giving full attention to infrastructure development in the northeastern region. He said a similar conglomeration of students from the Northeast studying in Maharashtra would be arranged in collaboration with the western state in November.
To a round of applause, Maharashtra education minister Tawde announced that a nodal officer would be appointed to oversee education-related issues of Northeast students in the western state.
Cancer care: Khandu today mooted a mechanism for transportation of cancer patients between Arunachal Bhavan in Mumbai and major hospitals in the city during a visit to the Bhavan.
