Assam's Spring Festival begins in Manas National Park
Guwahati, April 7: 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.
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BJP's Tejasvi Surya to join delegation to US to highlight India’s stance on Pak-backed terror
Bengaluru, May 18 (PTI): BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Sunday said he will be part of a multi-party delegation visiting the US and Latin America, to present India’s stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
Surya will join Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and others on the trip, which runs from May 23 to June 6.
The initiative is part of a major diplomatic outreach by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, which has constituted seven multi-party delegations to travel to 32 countries and the European Union.
Each team includes retired diplomats who will assist MPs with policy and diplomatic engagement. These delegations aim to present India's firm and unified stance against terrorism and assert its right to respond to cross-border attacks.
The BJP MP said, "I will be joining Dr Shashi Tharoor in the Indian delegation of MPs to the Americas. We will take to the world, India’s message against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and our demonstrated determination to put an end to it.”
According to Surya, Operation Sindoor signified a precise, measured and morally justified response to Pakistan-Backed Terrorism.
The operation has become a global call for justice and through this visit, MPs cutting across parties will unitedly highlight India's stance in combating terror.
“This initiative reflects the Modi government’s commitment to building a global coalition against terrorism and advancing India’s diplomatic leadership on the world stage,” he noted.
Karnataka is being represented by two Members of Parliament in this international initiative.
Apart from Surya, Mangaluru MP Captain Brijesh Chowta will be part of another delegation heading to the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
Surya expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju for giving him the responsibility.
