Railways to offer special train

Intertiol Shivaratri Festival at Sivasagar

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Jan 6:  Expecting footfall of at least three lakh tourists from the world over, Indian Railways is to offer a special train for the first of its kind Intertiol Shiva Festival to be held at Sivsagar from February 13 to 16 this year.

Historical city of Sivsagar, which is famed for its religious affinity towards Lord Shiva and the Shivadoul, is going to witness the first Intertiol Shivaratri festival this year. The festival is being organized with joint efforts of Sivasagar Shivadoul committee and Sivasagar district administration in order to take the festival to an intertiol level and promote culture and tourism of the region. 

Speaking to this reporter, Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner Jatindra Lahkar said, “This is indeed a privilege to be the host of such a big festival being held here for the first time. There will be seven countries participating in the festival and more than 13 universally acclaimed artistes and performers across different countries will be joining the festival to entertain the tourists coming to the festival.” Lahkar said that artists would especially perform Tandav Nritya. Fine art artists will create art of the famous Shiv Doul, and other historical places of Sivasagar.

Lakhar said: “We’ve other attractions for tourists like paragliding, camping trips at tea gardens and traditiol sang-ghars, night stay at handloom villages, exploring ethnic cuisine and culture and the like. So, we’re expecting footfall of at least three lakh tourists to this festival.” “We’ve requested Indian Railways to provide a special train for the tourists coming to the festival. It is indeed great news that as consent to our request they have provided a special train to run from Kolkata to Sivasagar,” Lahkar added.