Guwahati, April 7 (IANS) The two-day Assam Spring Festival began at the Manas National Park on Saturday where visitors will get to experience the state`s local food, music, handloom and handicrafts.
"The aim of the event is to promote the local food and culture of the fringe villagers. It is an attempt to create a model of alternative livelihood through food, handloom and culture," Mitali from Food Sutra, one of the organisers, said.
"We are expecting participation of over 300 domestic and foreign tourists in the two-day festival."
The festival has been organised, among others, by Indian Weavers` Association and the Swankar Mithinga Onsai Afat, an association of reformed poachers in Manas who are now engaged in wildlife conservation and preservation.
The National park which is also a tiger and rhino reserve covers five districts of Assam -- Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri and Barpeta.
Residents of fringe villages that dot the National Park are all set to give the tourists an experience of a lifetime by offering them a peek into their rural lives.
Saumar.J. Sharma of the Indian Weavers` Association said: "We have trained about 32 households about maintenance of hygiene and the basics of the service industry. We trained them on managing home stays and serving the guests home made food.
"When the locals start keeping guests in their home stays, it will not only provide then with an alternative livelihood but also direct market linkages to showcase and sell their products.
"Normally in Assam, the tourist season is for six months (April to November). However, with these initiatives, the locals can host interested travellers during the off season or all through the year."
On Saturday, there will be a session of celebrity cooking with renowned chef Gautam Mehrishi and food blogger Kalyan Karmakar.
Musician Joi Baruah is slated to perform on Saturday night.
The itinerary of the festival include village tours, exposition of local handicraft and handloom, cultural showa, local folk music and tasting of local cuisines and delicacies.
2. Uttar Pradesh Government launches Ganga Hariteema Yojana.
In Uttar Pradesh Ganga Hariteema Yojana (Ganga Greenery scheme) is being launched today in 27 districts of the state located on the bank of river Ganga.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will launch the scheme at Allahabad in a function organised on the bank of Sangam the confluence of rivers of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati.
1. As per information received, objectives of the schemes include enhancing green cover in the catchment areas of the river Ganga and to control the land erosion.
2. Plantation will be carried out in one-kilometre areas from the banks of river under the scheme.
3. General people will also will be encouraged for plantation on their private lands under One Person One Tree slogan.
4. A high power committee under chairmanship of Chief Minister has been set up to monitor the implementation of the scheme.
5. Seven state government departments has been engaged for implementation of the schemes and a committee has been set up under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary Rajeev Kumar to look after the contribution of different departments.
6. The scheme will be carried out by September 16 Ozone Day of this year.
7. Department of Forest has been nominated as nodal department for the scheme
3. Eight Theatre Olympics concludes in Mumbai.
The historic event of 8th Theatre Olympics concluded on April 9, 2018 in Mumbai after a glorious run of 51 days across 17 cities of India. Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Chief Minister, was the Chief Guest at the closing ceremony.
Over 400 artists from various parts of the country took part at the closing ceremony.
Guests of Honour
Union Minister of State of Ministry of Culture Mahesh Sharma and eminent theatre and film personality Nana Patekar were Guests of Honour at the closing ceremony of the event.
The closing ceremony also saw the gracious presence of Ratan Thiyam, the Artistic Director of 8th Theatre Olympics; Arjun DeoCharan, Acting Chairman of National School of Drama Society; Theodoros Terzopoulos, Chairman of the International Committee of Theatre Olympics and film personality Nawazuddin Siddiqui.