Shillong, December 14: Meghalaya Minister for School Education and Literacy, Deborah C. Marak inaugurated the three-day Simsang Festival, 2016 here in Williamnagar at Rongrenggre Higher Secondary School playground in the presence of GHADC CEM, Denang T. Sangma, GHADC Deputy Chairman, Metrinson G Momin, East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, H. B. Marak and other district officials on 14th December, 2016.
Inaugurating the festival, Marak spoke at length about the importance and significance of organizing winter festival in the state. The Minister said that the main objective of organizing the festival is to promote tourism. Highlighting the ways and means of promoting tourism, she appealed to the people of the region to preserve the natural resources and also to save Simsang River from drying up. Marak however, lamented that due to lack of fund the festival this time could not be organized as desired and lauded the district administration of East Garo Hills for organizing the festival with an amount of Rs. 5 lakhs only.
Others who spoke on the occasion included GHADC CEM, Denang T Sangma and the Deputy Commissioner, H. B. Marak. Earlier in the morning, the Simsang Carnival was flagged off by the Deputy Commissioner. In the carnival, Nokgil A∙we Art & Cultural Club bagged the first prize. Nengsanggre Youth Club and Chidekgre United Club bagged the second and third prizes respectively.
The other highlights of the three-day festival included exhibition stalls put-up by the self help groups, registered societies and Government departments like Agriculture, Sericulture, Horticulture, Soil and Water Conservation, etc. and C & RD Blocks, singing and dancing competitions, Tasek Festival at Tasek Lake, Simsang man-hunt and beauty pageant, marathon, cycle race, etc.
