7th Northeast Festival kicks off in Delhi

By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

New Delhi, Nov 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Delhi's coolest Northeast Festival (NEF) has returned to the national capital with its seventh edition here at Janpath. The three-day festival organised by Shyamkanu Mahanta and his team focuses on raising awareness about the diversity and the ethnic languages of the region.

The festival has a vibrant line-up of musicians such as Bipul Chettry, Zubeen Garg and Papon, colourful dance forms, mask presentations and dance dramas to enthrall the audience. As many as 40 food stalls will present diverse food items from the Northeast.

Besides, 20 fashion designers will also showcase their collections at the event. There will be a rock music battle between Delhi's colleges, as well as performances by rock bands from the Northeast and the national capital.

"NEF aims at creating awareness about Northeast and promoting tourism," Shyamkanu, the organiser-in-chief, told IANSlife.

On being asked about the achievements of the fest, Shyamkanu said: "Generally, Northeast India has a perception issue with the national media mostly highlighting floods, insurgency, and NRC (National Register of Citizens) related matters.

"However, prominent media houses last year extensively promoted Northeast's rich cultural heritage, which has helped in creating a positive perception about the region."

The fest runs from Friday till November 10 at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), Janpath, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Entry is free.

(N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in)

Source: IANS