Port Blair, Oct 13: Otherwise laid back, Andaman and Nicobar Islands are now planning to organised new events to woo tourists and keep remote Islanders busy in constructive things.
The tourism department of A & N Islands is planning an event to show case the very best in local art, craft, design etc on a common platform called Utsav – weekend mela that will be held during the weekends.
The “Utsav -weekend mela” will have ingredients like Flea Market, Traditional Food Courts, performing art forms, games, live music etc. The main objective is to encourage people’s participation in the tourism related activities so that it is community based and to encourage traditional artisans and the handicraft sector.
The department has selected the area from Light house restaurant to Girls school Junction, (between Netaji Stadium and Marina Park) for the purpose. It will be held on 18th Oct. 2014 from 4.00 PM to 10.00 PM. Sellers can display/sale/exhibit various arts forms like cane & bamboo made products, wooden products, coconut shell products, paper pulp, biodegradable, re-usable crafts, (other than old and used items), decorative items, home appliances, bags, magazines, old books, antique furniture, chairs, old sofas, CDs, photography, paintings, sketch work, Mehndi design, local ethnic food, games, local flowers, fruits & live music, etc .
The tourism department will allot space to vendors, individuals, cultural associations, self help groups, NGOs etc at Marina Park on rent free basis. However, shopkeepers and merchants will not be allowed to sell their merchandise in the ‘mela’.
Interested participants are requested to collect the registration form and terms & conditions either from Directorate of Tourism or can download from the official website i.e. www.and.nic.in, Tel.No 03192-244081. The filled up applications forms with relevant documents should reach to the undersigned on or before.16/10/2014.
Very recently Andaman Tourism had also added events like Food Festival, Monsoon Festival and Beach Festival to add colours in Andaman’s Tourism scenario.
