Dancers perform at Darjeeling Carnival. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, Nov. 7: The Darjeeling Carnival, which has caught the Hill town residents in a revelry whirlwind, is set to be recognised as a national tourism festival by the Union tourism department.

The national recognition will come next year as the event ? one of the most popular community initiatives in the country ? has already started proving its merit. ?Apart from being a gala event that has been brought about by the people of the Hill town, it has been able to fulfil the criteria of being held on the same day for three years in a row,? said Shasheesh Prasad, one of the organisers.

While the last two editions of the 10-day event started on November 7, this year, the organisers were forced to hold the event two days earlier. However, the early start to the festival will not be held against the organisers and would not be an obstacle to the national recognition. ?We have brought the programme forward only after receiving permission from tourism minister Renuka Chowdhury. She has also assured us that the festival will be recognised as a national event from next year,? Prasad said.

Once it gets the national recognition, the carnival, being held in association with The Telegraph, will be included in the Union tourism ministry?s Incredible India campaign. ?Incredible India is the ministry?s campaign where the rich culture and spirit of the country is being highlighted across the world. From next year, the carnival will also be publicised across the globe,? said Prasad.

The national-festival tag will also mean better financial assistance since part of the funds will be provided by the ministry. ?In fact, the ministry already extends support to the carnival but later, it will have a direct say in the event,? said Prasad.

Besides the carnival, Darjeeling Initiative, the organising association, has also been working towards attracting more tourists to the popular Hill station. ?We want to renovate the run-down heritage buildings,? one of the organisers said.

Darjeeling Initiative plans to forge a partnership with organisations like Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, National Museum and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.