Spread over two days, Celebrating North East 2021, an annual cultural event concluded on a high note at the New Moti Bagh Club, Chanakyapuri. Showcasing the rich heritage of India’s North-East Region (NER) with music, dance, fashion, and some inspiring artisanal works, the North East Institute of Fashion Technology (NEIFT) organised the thirteenth edition of the festival.
On this occasion, Vikram Rai Medhi, Chief Festival Curator and CEO of NEIFT shares, “We are feeling blessed to have the support of various Central government ministries, Bodoland Territorial Council, and Assam government in making our 13th Edition of Celebrating North East a reality. All have encouraged and supported us to bring the music, culture, fashion, delicacy, handicrafts, handlooms, and tourism destinations here to Delhi and create a mini–North East for two days at Chanakyapuri. We believe that such festivals bring people of different communities closer and enable in eroding the negative myths about NER. It is a culturally diverse and rich region with its own socio-anthropological history. Its terrain is perfect for adventure tourism etc. but unfortunately many are not aware of it. This festival has been organised to bring Delhi-NCR people closer to North East culture.”
Celebrating North East is a holistic event of this region’s fashion, food, and culture. The exquisite vibrant textures, patterns and designs were presented on the last day. The event was punctuated by musical performances and folk-dance performances by Bodo groups from Kokrajhar which enthralled the audience. A female group from North East presented welcome songs by Dr Bhupen Hazarika. Bihu performance by Assamese actor Priyam Pallabi was a major attraction of the evening. Fashion sequences were presented by 30 top models featuring designer Bidyut & Rakesh, Nandini, and Arita. Sunepnaro, Shangmao, and Juni Narzary from Bodoland. The crowd was mesmerised by the rich and exotic textiles of the NER. Popular Models like Nayanika Chatterjee, Palak Yadav of MTV Splitsvilla, Sonali etc were seen on the ramp.
The festival has been able to bring such diverse communities from different states of the NER in one culturally strong and constructive platform in the Capital annually.
