Assam prepares for Dehing Pakai tea festival

guwahati: the colourful brochure of the dehing tea patkai festival states: "...wake up to a misty dawn unfolding amidst the purling waters of dehing in the foothills of the lofty patkai ranges. in this dew-kissed virgin moment, savour the golden brew that comes fresh from the verdant tea gardens around..." an enchanting depiction to lure tourists. the festival will be kicked off on january 16, after its inauguration by assam chief minister, tarun gogoi.an ethnic congregation, to be organised by the asom sahitya sabha, has been scheduled for january 17, while a congregation for the protection of conservation of flora and fauna is slated for january 18 at the central venue. the festival will conclude on january 19. says pradyut bordoloi, assam's minister of state for home: "the enchanting beauty and variegated history of this area prompted the government of assam to organise the dehing tea patkai festival at lekhapani in the state's eastern most district of tinsukia." "such festivals send out positive signals. in fact, a series of such events in recent times is enough indication of the fact that the law and order situation is improving in assam. in fact, in the recently concluded rainforest festival, thousands of locals participated. this is a very good sign -tourism is our thrust area and the community should be involved in it", feels bordoloi. as part of the festival, wildlife and ornithological safaris to the nearby dibru- saikhowa national park, the borjan sanctuary, joydihing rainforest, podumoni and bherjan sanctuaries, kaziranga national park, namdapha tiger project in neighbouring arunachal pradesh, a river cruise downstream from margherita through upper dehing reserve forest and picnic on a river island would be undertaken. bordoloi pointed out: "the terrain is deep and exotic. one can even go on an elephant safari and follow the trail into the wilderness, or drive up the stilwell road that once was the passage to myanmar." simultaneously, a golf tournament would be held at the 18-hole golf course at digboi club, the 9-hole course at margherita club, and other golf courses at doomdooma, kanjikhowa, tingrai and duliajan clubs. "visits to singpho, sema, tangsa and tai phake tribal villages, apart from trekking to mulang hilltop village and a tribal food festival are also on the cards. in fact, the sema nagas will be providing traditional accommodation to the guests, many of whom would be travel writers and travel agents", bordoloi explained. in fact, according to the minister, tea garden managers have opened up guest rooms of their bungalows to visitors, while companies like assam oil have pitched in, providing chang bungalows and other guest houses for visitors to the festival. "this apart, at the rukmini island on the brahmaputra river, water sports and overnight camping will be organised. there will also be a trek to the pangsau pass from nampong, together with a view of the mythical lake of no return in myanmar", he observed.