President Murmu To Inaugurate 4-Day Northeastern Cultural Extravaganza In Delhi's Amrit Udyan Tomorrow

The Mahotsav will also celebrate the vibrant tapestry of diverse flavours and unique traditions of northeast India’s culinary landscape.

Guwahati: President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate a four-day cultural extravaganza, “Vividhta ka Amrit Mahotsav: A cultural odyssey unveiling the richness of Northeast India,” on Thursday, at the Amrit Udyan, Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Culture and Tourism, G Kishan Reddy, will be present on the occasion.

The event is being held as a part of “Udyan Utsav 2024”. 

The event is being organised by the DoNER Ministry in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, and being managed through DoNER’s Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE), and Northeastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDC).

The first chapter of the Vividhta ka Amrit Mahotsav has been meticulously curated to showcase the rich diversity of the northeast, blending traditional arts, crafts, and cultures under one vibrant umbrella.

Envisioned as a cultural mosaic, the Mahotsav is more than a celebration. The festival aims to foster exchanges in traditional handicrafts, handlooms, and agro products, becoming a catalyst for the region’s growth and development, the DoNER Ministry stated in a press release.

The Mahotsav will witness the participation of more than 320 weavers, artisans, farmers, and entrepreneurs through eight dedicated stalls for each state from the northeast. It will serve as a platform to showcase the unique aspects that make the northeastern region a cultural jewel. The Mahotsav aims to present the best of northeast India under one roof with exquisite, handcrafted products, handloom and textiles, and sustainable handicrafts.

The Northeast offers a range of sustainable organic products, including high-quality organic tea, bamboo products, spices, herbal medicines, hand-woven textiles, organic pineapples, honey, and traditional rice varieties. A majority of the region’s craft uses raw materials including cane, bamboo, wood, terracotta, kauna grass, water hyacinth, bell metal, and brass.

The event will be an opportunity to reflect on the region’s commitment to eco-friendly practices, biodiversity preservation and traditional farming methods, the release stated.

There will be over 20 stations with live demonstrations for the public to witness first-hand skill, craft, and expertise that goes into the curation of jewels from the northeastern region such as Assam’s Majuli mask making, basket weaving, lotus silk extraction, nettle fibre weaving, loin loom weaving, dry flower making, tribal jewellery making, thangka painting, brass metal carving, and wood carving.

The event also promises an enchanting journey through traditional dances, mesmerising performances, and a showcase of the region’s rich cultural heritage.

Over 350 artists from all eight northeastern states will be elevating the Mahotsav with their remarkable performances. The Mahotsav will showcase traditional dances including Meghalaya’s Wangala dance, Nagaland’s Mungwanta dance, Mizoram’s bamboo dance, and Assam’s Bihu dance.

It will be an opportunity to witness the diverse talent and artistic supremacy that the northeastern region has to offer. Additionally, an exquisite first-of-its-kind fashion show, focused on the multiple Geographical Indication (GI) products from the northeast will promote the unchallenged stylistic genius that stems from the profoundly diverse northeastern region, the release added.

The food stalls will be a delightful representation of this rich gastronomic heritage. From Assam’s delectable “Laksa” to Manipur’s “Eromba,” the food stalls offer a fascinating journey through the region’s distinct tastes and indigenous herbs and spices.

The diversity of northeast India’s food stalls will not only tantalise the taste buds but also provide a unique opportunity for visitors to explore and appreciate the region’s rich cultural tapestry through its culinary delights.

Moreover, there will be a plethora of engaging activities such as kids activity zone and youth engagement zone, that will not only provide an avenue for the young minds of the country to engage in novel activities like never before, but will simultaneously provide an opportunity to learn about the historical and cultural richness of the northeast, the release further stated.

The writer is a senior independent journalist covering the Northeast.