Representatives of students’ associations who will participate in the festival in New Delhi. Telegraph picture

Guwahati, Sept. 12: The North East Festival, a carnival of cultural and traditional heritage, will be held at Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts in New Delhi on November 8 and 9.

The event, the largest festival on the Northeast outside the region, will showcase the eight states, their success stories, ethnic dances, top musical talent and tourism potential along with a photographic journey to the region called Paradise Unexplored.

The event, to be made a part of Delhi’s annual event calendar, was unveiled at the centre today. A website, www.northeastfestival.com, was also launched. “This will be an annual event. This year, the emphasis will be on tourism, culture and entrepreneurship. It is an attempt to connect people of various ethnicities and encourage investment and progress,” Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser-in-chief of the event, said.

The event is being organised by Trend MMS, the leading cultural trust of the region, in collaboration with the North East MPs’ Forum and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, an autonomous organisation under the Union ministry of culture.

It will be attended by Northeast chief ministers, parliamentarians and bureaucrats, among other dignitaries. Olympian Mary Kom, actor Adil Hussain and footballer Bhaichung Bhutia are also likely to grace the event.

Besides, the top colleges of Delhi, state and central administration and leading intellectuals have been invited to the event. “This is an attempt to reach out and build bridges among the people of the Northeast and the rest of India,” economist and adviser, Jayanta Madhab, said.

Former chief secretary of Manipur D.S. Poonia said, “The event would discuss aptitude and skill development in the Northeast and showcase its skill development initiatives and entrepreneurial success stories.”