AHAIA-Tura Winter Festival begins on a colourful note

AHAIA-Tura Winter Festival begins on a colourful note
TURA, NOV 3: The Tura Winter Festival, “AHAIA--Garo Hills beckons, 2008”, organized by the Department of Tourism, Meghalaya in collaboration with the District Administation, got off to a colourful start with an impressive Carnival at Tura on Monday.
A colourful cultural procession, which is the first of its kind in Garo Hills, included tableaus depicting the life and culture of the Garos and traditional dances of various tribes and communities living in Garo Hills and was flagged off by the Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Mr. Thomas A Sangma at Chandmary playground. The processionists marched through the streets of Tura amidst cheers from the onlookers, before converging at Tura MP Stadium, Dakopgre for the formal inauguration of the weeklong festival.
Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, the Rajya Sabha MP, Mr. Sangma said that this was a proud moment for the people of Garo Hills to show to the rest of the world that the spirit of harmony and brotherhood still exists in this region when incidents of hatred and violence are taking place in other parts of the country. “With the right people in the right places, Garo Hills can only move ahead in the right direction--towards progress and prosperity”, he added.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Mr F. R. Kharkongor, while delivering his welcome and keynote address, said that “Ahaia” is the essence of Garo culture and hospitality and this winter festival was being organized to showcase all the wonderful aspects and positive vibes of Garo Hills. This carnival was also aimed at bringing about cross-cultural exchange, so various tribes and communities from Garo Hills as well as Jaintia Hills have come together for the festival, he said.
The cultural cavalcade, included six tableaus from various cultural clubs and organizations and government agencies, traditional dancers, including the Bhangra dancers from Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Shillong, Nepali, Assamese, Hajong and Koch dances. A man dressed-up like the legendary ‘Mande buring’ and an elephant which was brought all the way from Assam, were an added attractions during the carnival. Cash prizes were also given away to the three best tableaus.
The fire balloons or ‘tyngkoms’, brought by a team from Jaintia Hills Tourism Development Society (JHTDS) as a gesture of goodwill and friendship, were also released on the occasion.
Earlier in the morning, a welcome gate erected at a tri-junction at Asanang, 18 kms from Tura, was inaugurated by the Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Thomas A Sangma in the presence of Parliamentary Secretaries, Mr. Satto Marak and Mr. Marcuise Marak, JHTDS Secretary, Mr. M.Lohit, Deputy Commissioner, Tura Mr. F R Kharkongor, members of the Tura Chambers of Commerce, district officials and the local residents.
The arch, measuring 12 metres in length, was constructed at a cost of about Rs. 3 lakhs and has been sponsored by the Tura Chambers of Commerce.