From Our Correspondent
TURA, DEC 5: It is festive time in Meghalaya’s Garo hills. The winter joy is palpable as people are all geared up to engage in fun filled activities. The winter festivities give an opportunity for the youth to showcase their skills in different field of art, culture and sports activities. The build up to festivities in Garo hills begins on December 7 with the curtain raiser of Dimchrang festival at Ampati in South West Garo hills.
All eyes are on Dimchrang festival as the event opens with a youth interaction and motivational talk with Senorita Miss International India 2016 Rewati Chetri at Multi Facility Centre in Ampati on December 8.
She will also make her public appearance at the felicitation programme at Ampati Mini Stadium and take the stage during the beauty pageant Dimchrang Queen.
This year’s theme for Dimchrang festival is “Youth as change maker” and the organisers have roped in celebrity rock singer Abhishek Gurung of the reality show “The Stage” and his band Still Waters, who will be performing at Ampati on December 10.
“We hope that the icons from Northeast will be able to engage our youth. The interaction and motivational talks by Rewati and Abhishek is aimed at inspiring our youth and fostering relationship and sending out a message for cross promotion of culture”, said Cyril Diengdoh, Deputy Commissioner of South West Garo Hills.
Diengdoh is confident that the youth achievers, who will be at Ampati for the Dimchrang festival, will act as brand ambassador of Garo hills as they will be treated to the culture, tourism and lifestyle of the region.
Rewati Chettri, who has been recently appointed as Japan Tourism brand ambassador to India is looking forward to her visit to Garo hills.
In her message Chettri said, “Though this is my first visit to Garo hills but the region and its fabric has been part of my success story. I am excited that I will be able to meet the people, especially the youth of Garo hills to thank and greet them for being in my journey”.
Chettri had closely worked with a well-known model and designer of Garo hills – Tatyana Momin. Chettri had worn an outfit designed by Momin during Miss International 2016 held at Tokyo last month.
Sports and youth affairs minister Zenith Sangma will attend the inaugural programme as chief guest in presence of Winnerson D Sangma and a host of other dignitaries. The closing ceremony on December 10 will be attended by Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma.
Finalist of the reality show “The Stage” Abhishek Gurung of Still Waters, who had earlier performed in Baghmara, is very excited to be once again in Garo hills along with his band. “I am anticipating similar response and looking forward that Ampati will rock and roll with us”.
Apart from fashion and music, the organisers of the festival have made elaborate arrangement to showcase sports.
Toward this end, a contingent of Sepak Takraw players, who have represented India at different national and international events, have been invited to hold a workshop and exhibit a match at Ampati on December 9-10.
“Sepak Takraw is a leg volley, which is very popular in South Asian nations. Most of the Sepak Takraw players come from Northeast, so we decided to showcase the game and hold a workshop for interested youth sports enthusiasts”, said Gino Sangma of William Initiative, an NGO partner of the district administration of South West Garo hills and Ampati Arts and Cultural Society, who are organizing the Dimchrang festival.
The festival is supported by Art and Culture department, government of Meghalaya and Meghalaya Tourism.
Sangma also said that sports transcends all barriers and engages all communities and is hopeful that the game will attract all attention during the winter festival.
He said that the Sport Authority of India, north eastern region Manipur has consented to facilitate technical support to conduct the workshop and exhibit the match at Ampati.
In a release the organisers have asked the interested youths to take active participation in district level art and culture competitions, the registration for which is underway at Ampati Mini stadium.
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