10th Edition of North East Festival Begins at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

The 10th Edition of the North East Festival began at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The festival aims to promote the North East region’s diverse life, culture, traditions, and tourism. Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Narayan Rane inaugurated the MSME Exhibition at the North East Festival.

The last two editions were held in Guwahati in a hybrid model due to rising Covid in the national capital. Since its inception in 2013, this festival has contributed a lot in promoting tourism in the North Eastern states.

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Its Significance:

• The festival will provide an opportunity to entrepreneurs from North East regions especially women and SC/ST entrepreneurs to showcase their skills, products and create new opportunities for growth.
• This festival has contributed a lot to boosting tourism in the northeastern states. The four-day cultural festival will showcase the best of North East India’s cultural resources in Delhi.
• More than one hundred MSME businesses are taking part in the festival. They are showcasing the northeast’s handloom, handmade jewellery, handicrafts, agricultural-horticultural products, and processed food items.

Importance of N-E Region:

• Strategic Location: The NER is strategically located with access to the traditional domestic market of eastern India, along with proximity to the major states in the east and adjacent countries such as Bangladesh and Myanmar.
• Links with Southeast Asia: With ASEAN engagement becoming a central pillar of India’s foreign policy direction, NE states play an important role as the physical bridge between India and Southeast Asia.
• Significant for India’s Act East Policy: The Act East Policy places the northeastern states on the territorial frontier of India’s eastward engagement.
• Economic Significance: The NER has immense natural resources, accounting for around 34% of the country’s water resources and almost 40% of India’s hydropower potential.
  • Sikkim is India’s first organic state.
• Tourism Potential: Northeast of India is home to many wildlife sanctuaries like Kaziranga National Park famous for the one horned rhinoceros, Manas National Park, Nameri, Orang, Dibru Saikhowa in Assam, Namdhapha in Arunachal Pradesh, Balpakram in Meghalaya, Keibul Lamjao in Manipur, Intanki in Nagaland, Khangchendzonga in Sikkim.
• Cultural Significance: Tribes in NER have their own culture. Popular festivals include Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, Pang Lhabsol of Sikkim, etc.