Shillong All Set To Welcome Autumn Festival At Umiam Lake

A Reporter

SHILLONG: The well-known Autumn Festival with the same glitz and glamour after will once again be held at Umiam Lake on October 26 and 27.

This festival is one of those festivals which mark the onset of a season. It is mainly celebrated in Shillong, capital of Meghalaya

This is actually a cultural extravaganza that reflects the rich culture of the nation. The festival acts as a great platform to display the culture of the indeginous people of the state and get transformed into a center of fun and frolic for tourists.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Alethea Kynta member of OPOS production informed that last year the festival had drawn in many tourists from outside the state and it was a huge success despite a gap of almost five years, however this time around the festival will be even bigger and better.

She said that last year they had to shell out almost 80 percent for organizing the festival from their own pocket with out much sponsors but this time around even the department of tourism will partner with us to support the initiative of organizing the event.

It may be mentioned that the festival was started in the year 2006 by Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF)and it continued till 2012 and that was the last edition hence it’s been five years the festival was discontinued but it was revived in 2018.

She pointed out that in Nagaland, Manipur and other North Eastern states usually have a festival which is popular across the county hence the idea came to revive the Autumn Festival.

It may be mentioned in previous editions of the Autumn Festival features a number of events like fashion show, food and wine festival, flower shows, music performances, sports events, kite flying competitions and other types of events.

The festival also provides business opportunities for local craftsmen who display as well as sell various handicraft items during this festival.

“During the two day festival we will try and make it a free plastic autumn festival as was done last year as many of the stalls in the venue were not allowed to sell plastic bottled water and paper cups were used,” she said.

She informed that many local bands will also take part in the festival including a few from outside the state including a DJ from USA however details are still being finalized.

“This year a ballet group from Shillong will also preform at the festival which will be a first as not many people know that ballet is being practised by the youths in the state as there is also a dancing school for this form of dance in the city,” she said.

She also informed that a separate stage will also be present at the venue to give a platform to anyone to showcase their talent they can just come to the venue and register and a slot will be given to then to preform.

The organizers also informed that a contest titled Rhythm of Meghalaya will be held and bands can participate and the winner will recieve a cash price of Rs.1 lakh and will preform at the festival while the runner’s up will receive a cash price of Rs. 50, 000.

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