Dibrugarh: The district administration organised the Jokai tourism festival, 15km from here in Jokai on Sunday, in collaboration with Sonali Prabhat, an NGO, to promote rural tourism.

The day-long community-based tourism festival showcased the rich culture and tradition of six communities of the area namely the Ahoms, Sonowal Kacharis, Kumars, tea tribes and Nepalis.

"The motto of the festival was 'do, learn, feel and share' and visitors were seen immersing themselves in the rural setting for a day, enjoying the culture," Hironmoni Borgohain, the secretary of the NGO, said.

Borgohain said they organised the festival for the first time to give a boost to the tourism industry of the district.

"Visitors were given a traditional welcome on their arrival. They had the opportunity to witness the process of preparing jolpan (traditional breakfast) from the grain to the breakfast bowl, pitha (rice cake) making, traditional drink preparation, life cycle of silk worm, local handloom work, indigenous fishing techniques, local herbs with medicinal benefits, preparation of ethnic cuisine and local beverages apart from display of bamboo, cane and wooden crafts. Six local communities showcased their culture at an ethnic cultural show," Borgohain said.

Meanwhile, people from Dibrugarh thronged the festival to taste the traditional delicacies.

Many stalls were put up in the festival which were mostly set up by the local residents.

Jokai reserve forest is one of the rich biodiversity hotspots in Dibrugarh and the NGO has been working for conservation of its rich ecology.

Narayan Das, one of the organisers, said, "The response of the people has been quite encouraging. People have come to participate in the festival from every district of Upper Assam. Through this event we aim to promote sustainable tourism in Dibrugarh district by involving the local population. Rural tourism has a big potential for employment generation particularly for youths living in the rural areas. We have been imparting training to youths so that they are well prepared for such opportunities."