Northeast India Fest enthralls Bengaluru

Embarking on a new approach of building solidarity and raising awareness about Northeast way of life through food and art, a fashion and food festival was held recently in Karnataka capital Bengaluru.

Festivals of northeastern states are unique and culturally rich in their own way. They highlight the region's indigenous culture combined with folk songs, tribal dances, cuisines and handicrafts.

North-East Solidarity presented the third edition of the Northeast festival titled 'Miss Northeast 2016 and Northeast Food Festival, the biggest of its kind in south India.

The fest organised live performances by rock bands and also hosted traditional food stalls apart from a fashion show cum Miss Northeast 2016 contest.

Rinni Ralte, President, North-East Solidarity, "We cannot create simple friendship just by calling a meeting or seminar but when it comes to food festival like this, anybody who is interested are coming forward. So, you don't need to create another space for friendship because the programme itself is creating friendship space. In the first festival, we got more than three thousands visitors, second edition we got seven thousands and now today we are expecting more than ten thousands visitors."

The people of Bengaluru were thrilled after savouring mouth-watering delicacies from the Northeast region.

The festival also promoted enterprises, business, small scale industry, garments and other products made by crafts persons from the region.

An American visitor said, "Food is absolutely different from the food in mainland India. It's incredible delicious. There are a lot of different meat items and different spices and I highly recommended the tea leaves salad from Mizoram. It's out of this world."

Richard, a chef and food expert, "The people from the north east, particularly the Nagas and the Manipuris, they've mastered the art of preserving, salting, sun-drying, pickling and preserving food for the months that will come. And a lot of their food hints around this very aspect of cooking."

Models representing all eight north-eastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura -- sashayed down the ramp for Miss Northeast 2016 title.

Kiyena Zhimoni from Nagaland was crowned the coveted Miss Northeast 2016 title whereas Tiabenla Longkumar from Nagaland and Karishma Patar from Assam were given 1st and 2nd runners-up titles respectively.

Zhimoni said, "I am feeling so good. This is awesome winning Miss Northeast 2016. I never thought of it but I got the opportunity and the title. A very thank you to all."

Such events not only promote the rich vibrant culture and talent of the Northeast but bring the region closer to the mainland.