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Riotous flavours of spring to erupt this March

By Aiyushman Dutta |


Northeast India is known for its geological marvels, nature’s splendor and an unparalleled spectrum of ethno-cultural multiplicity. A multitude of tribes and races with myriad ethno-cultural traditions, languages and religious beliefs live here side by side keeping alive their traditions, institutions, languages and religious practices. A fine texture of diverse hues spraypainted on a beautiful landscape makes this melting pot of human races a true ethnological wonder, perhaps the only one of its kind in the whole world.


The onset of springtime is undoubtedly the most preferred time to visit Northeast India. For this is the time when the people of the region, belonging to different tribes and races and with myriad ethno-cultural traditions, languages and religious beliefs, give full lease to their joy and exuberance in the form of unbridled festivities celebrating the mood of nature.


This March, the varied flavours of the Northeast are all set to erupt in the form of the North East Spring Festival 2011 – a mega Northeast-centric carnival capturing the mood and brilliance of springtime. With more than 500 artistes participating, the festival will showcase the biggest ensemble of folk dances, folk music, puppeteers, craftsmen, poets, choral singers, theatre groups, chefs and others who will showcase the best of regional dance, music, handloom and handicraft products, cuisine, et al. Organized by North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), the festival will be held from March 16 to 20 in the NEZCC grounds, Dimapur.


While the festival also has a lot for music lovers in the form of choral and fusion music concerts featuring stalwarts like Khasi guitarist-singer Lou Majaw, a major highlight of the fest will be the performance of cultural troupes from Myanmar and Cambodia. Sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) under the Ministry of External Affairs, the international dance troupes will also perform in Lumami and Mokokchung as part of the NEZCC’s outreach programme. Cultural troupes from other Zonal Cultural Centres of the country will also perform in Diphu, Karbi Anglong of Assam and Medziphema of Nagaland.


And if you thought that was all, you better think again. Not just song and dance, the North East Spring festival also has something for book lovers in the form of a Northeast Book Fair organized by NEZCC in association with the National Book Trust.


The major features of North East Spring Festival 2011 are:




  1. Folk Dance Choreography Show – March 16 and 17, 2011




  2. Ethnic Costume Show of the Northeast – March 18, 2011




  3. Theatre Show by Stage Fusion and Puppet Show – March 19, 2011




  4. Choral Singing and Fusion Music (Mizoram, Nagaland and Lou Majaw from Shillong)




  5. International Folk Dance performances from Myanmar and Laos – March 16, 2011




  6. Northeast Indian Crafts Bazaar – March 16 to 20, 2011




  7. Traditional Ethnic Food Court – March 16 to 20, 2011




  8. Book Fair in association with National Book Trust – March 14 to March 20




  9. Northeast Poetry Meet (Theme: Child Rights in association with United Tribal Society) – March 17 to 19, 2011




  10. Folk Dances from 8 North East Indian States




The following dance performances from the Northeast would be featured in the spring festival: Domik Tsheri (Arunachal Pradesh), Bagromba (Assam), Thangta, Dhol and Pong Cholom (Manipur), Cheraw (Mizoram), Maroni dance (Sikkim), Lebong Bomani (Tripura), Archery, Shad Reit and Shad Weit dances (Meghalaya). From other parts of the country, one will get to watch performances like Sambalpuri dance of Orissa, Thodla Choufla of Uttarakhand, Kullu Nati of Himachal Pradesh, Gaur Maria of Chattisgarh, Gussadi of Andhra Pradesh and Dandia Ras Garbha of Gujarat.


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