Gangtok, Nov. 6: Music competitions, food fests, exhibitions, cultural shows and rural sports have been lined up as part of Mangan town’s centenary celebrations.

The three-day carnival will kick off from tomorrow at north Sikkim’s district headquarters.

Set up as an outpost for trade with Tibet in 1903, Mangan initially comprised just three shops. Today, it is better known as the cardamom capital of the world, offering a gateway to tourist destinations north of the hill state.

Speaking to The Telegraph, North district zilla adakshya and president of the centenary celebration committee Lobzang G. Tenzing said: “Chief minister Pawan Chamling will inaugurate the festivities at Mangan ground tomorrow. The celebrations will end on November 9.”

The chief minister is already on a visit of the interiors of north Sikkim and inaugurated the Rabomchu hydel project at Chungthang today.

The town’s centenary celebrations will be held on a lavish scale. The district machinery, along with the local residents, have put in hard work to give Mangan a facelift for the celebrations.

The town, set up by local landlord Malling Kazi Rinzing Namgyal on the orders of British political officer to Sikkim, Sir John Claude White, was built to facilitate the first British expedition to Tibet in 1903.

Recently, the state government also named a road in Mangan after Namgyal for his contribution towards establishing the township.

The year 1903 has special significance in Sikkim’s history since it was the year in which imperial adventurer Francis Younghusband passed through the state on his way to invading Tibet.

The celebrations have already drawn a good response from all over the state. Local people and tourists are expected to flock to the town and take part in the revelry.

Earlier, residents and political leaders of Mangan had formed a committee to shoulder the responsibilities of organising the celebrations. The committee nominated MLA and power minister Yishey Lachungpa as its patron.

Mangan has been thoroughly spruced up in anticipation of visitors during the three-day celebrations. Roads have been carpeted and amenities upgraded. Shops and kiosks, including hotels in the town, have put up uniform signboards in traditional Sikkimese style.

The biggest attraction of the festival, however, promises to be the music competition where bands from Kohima, Shillong and other parts of the country will compete to win cash prizes.