Williamnagar July 12: The Basin Development Unit of East Garo Hills District under the aegis of Meghalaya Basin Development Authority organized a two day Jackfruit Festival at Williamnagar Police Parade ground on 11th &12th July, 2013. The festival was aimed at creating awareness about various uses and products of jackfruit as well as to encourage enterprising in jackfruit value added products. This is the first ever Jackfruit Festival in entire North East India. Thousands of people all over from Garo Hills visited the festival.
Home Science College from Tura, Bethany Society from Tura, Mendhipathar Mutli purpose Cooperative Society from Mendhipathar, Sangma Bakery from Willimanagar, Marak Bakery from Williamanagar, Romgpi Food Paradise from Williamnagar, DCIC of East Garo Hills, MRDS of East Garo Hills and 12 Self Help Groups displayed various value added Jackfruit based products in total 20 stall. The products include Jackfruit Cakes, Jackfruit Muffins, Jackfruit Chips, Jackfruit Biscuits, Jackfruit Bread, Jackfruit Chocolates, Jackfruit Pickles, Jackfruit wine, Jackfruit Juice and Jackfruit Jam.
Tura Polytechnic made a Power Point presentation on preparation of Jackfruit wine, chips, juice and jam. Samanda SHG demonstrated the preparation of Jackfruit Chutney. Tura Home Science College demonstrated preparation of “Jackfruit Puri” and “Jackfruit Chips”.
witnessed huge crowd starting from early in the morning. Many people brought their biggest jackfruits to enter into “Biggest Jackfruit Competition”. Total 90 big jackfruits are brought from all over Garo Hills to the festival. The biggest Jackfruit award was won by Shri. Collin Marak firm Upper Rongjeng, who brought a jackfruit weighing 29.00 kgs. The runner up was Shri. Starlin Marak whose jackfruit was weighing 26.7 kgs. It may be noted that the world record for biggest jackfruit is 34.4 kgs set by a farmer from Hawai. Looking at the potential next year Garo Hills can easily beat that record.
For the Jack fruit Eating Competition total 61 female participants and 164 male participants competed. The winner from female is Smt. Martina Marak who ate 54 fruits in 2 minutes. The runner up from female category was Smt. Elitha N Sangma who ate 47 fruits in 2 minutes. The winner from Male category was Shri. Gamseng Marak who ate 49 fruits in One minute. The runner up was Shri. Dildin Marak who ate 41 fruits in One minute. Many enthusiastic spectators cheered the participants throughout the competition. Jackfruit Cooking competition also witnessed enthusiastic participation. The competitors cooked in the presence of the spectators to compete. Apart from competitions there was also a workshop on jackfruit based products.
“Williamnagar Jackfruit Festival 2013” was kick started in style with Inaugural function attended by Smt. Deborah C Marak, Hon’ble Minister i/c Social Welfare Department, Shri. Sengnam Marak, Parliamentary Secretary, Fisheries Department, Shri. Cherak W Momin, Parliamentary Secretary, PWD (R) Dept and Shri. Vijay Kumar Mantri, DC, East Garo Hills and many other dignitaries.
The first ever Jackfruit festival concluded successfully. Many people expressed their wish to see many more such festivals in future.(SP News)
