Gangtok, Nov. 28: The Sikkim capital is ready for the winter carnival and this time, people here are set to display their wedding finery.

“Traditional marriage custom” will be the theme of the annual winter festival, to be held between December 8 and 11 on the Shopping Complex premises near Sadar thana here. Organised by the Sikkim tourism department, the fiesta will have a photo exhibition, flower shows, food stalls, cultural programmes like dance and music competitions and adventure activities like trekking, helicopter rides, rafting, rock climbing and archery.

Acording to the deputy secretary, information and publicity, Siphora Targain, such festivals funded by the governments, both state and Union, are aimed at promoting tourist destinations besides making an effort to attract visitors during the lean winter season.

“The department is trying to promote Sikkim as an all-season destination,” Targain said. “Efforts are also on to have a public-private partnership in organising such events.”

Recently, a tourism team, comprising commissioner-cum-secretary Alok Shrivastava and the chief executive officer of Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation, led by the minister of the department, R. B. Subba, had visited London to participate in the World Travel market.

Sikkim was also adjudged the seventh best state in the country by a media group at the Galileo Travel World Awards held at New Delhi recently.