Tawang festival now global event

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, April 1: Picturesque Tawang bordering Chi is all set to welcome tourists from far and wide with the filization of the date for the three-day extravaganza from May 1 to 3 next.

The date for the tourism festival was filized on Monday in a meeting chaired by UD, Tourism, Art & Culture Minister Pema Khandu at DC’s conference hall which, was attended by Tawang MLA Tsering Tashi, DoKAA chairman Jambey Wangdi, DC Abishek Dev and head of departments, panchayat leaders besides civil and army officials, to chalk out the road map for the successful conduct of the festival. Pema Khandu eloquently highlighted the journey of the fest since its debut in 2012. “Tawang festival is no more a community or regiol fest but has grown into a fully fledged global event and is the most favoured event which draws mammoth flow of tourists keen to mingle and savour our rich tradition”, he imbued, while declaring to make the three day fest an annual calendar event. “Such festivals are the major platform to showcase our rich, varied and unique lifestyle, culture and tradition to the outside world and no Indian made foreign liquors (IMFL) should be served at the rendezvous,” the minister added, forbidding the sale of IMFL liquor in a bid to showcase local brews and cuisines during the fest.

He further advocated for daytime events at the market square over late night programmes expressing concern over law and order issues. Wangdi prioritized on the law and order situation during the fest fearing any untoward event sending a negative image of the peaceful region to the outside world. Appealing everyone to work for maintaining the sanctity of the land, he pushed on highlighting more cultural and traditiol heritage of the pious region during the celebrations. The DC briefed the aims and objectives of the meeting and stressed on putting a stringent tab on the closing time of stalls and routine for serving liquor in the eateries to ward off any untoward incidents.

Cracking the whip on BSNL for the erratic network and internet services in the district, he directed them to prioritize the festival area. He also informed the house that a tourism department website and a booklet on tourism would also be released during the festival. Tawang MLA Tsering Tashi exhorted for a vegetarian and alcohol free festival. Emphasizing on celebrating the fest with an appropriate theme and banner, he called on the Indian Army and SSB to work hand in glove with the factotums to make the mega festival a grand success. A committee was constituted with Pema as the chief patron, Tsering Tashi, Parliamentary secretary Jambey Tashi and DoKAA chairman Jambey Wangdi as the patrons, Tawang DC as the festival chairman and YUVA president Tsetan Chombey as the festival director. A charter of duties was also framed after the constitution of a sub-committee after a threadbare discussion.