Sikkim Paragliding Fest sails today

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 30 Oct: The first Sikkim Paragliding Festival 2012 begins Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. here in the capital. Organized by the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department in association with Paragliding Association of India [PAI] the fest will continue till 03 November.
Former Indian skipper, Bhaichung Bhutia, will inaugurate the festival and a group of pilots will be flagged off from Bulbuley Dara who will then land at Reshithang where the Commissioner cum Secretary Tourism will receive them. Two young achievers from Nepal - Sanu Babu Sunwar and Lakpa Sherpa - will also be felicitated on the day.
Apart from para gliding arrangements have also been made for rock climbing, traversing, etc. TAAS will be holding a photo exhibition while a cultural programme at MG Marg will also be held every evening during the festival. The movie ‘Hanuman Airlines: Fly Over Everest’ on paragliding, which features Sanu Babu Sunwar and Lakpa Sherpa, will also be screened.
“The main aim of the Paragliding Festival is to promote tourism, particularly adventure tourism. We have thought of doing lots of activities at different venues. We finally decided to hold this fest here in the state as all the infrastructure is here. Sikkim has a huge untapped potential in adventure tourism and Paragliding being an adventure sport, we thought that it’s high time to host such an event in the state”, said Additional Secretary Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Rinzing Chewang Bhutia in a press meet today.
Secretary General [PAI], Manoj Roy added that the festival is named as a Free Flying Festival, as it is wind dependent, and no other form of power is being used. “All the medical facilities will be available at the take off and landing while we also have the support of a voluntary organization, Sikkim Amateur Mountaineering Association”, said Mr Roy.
Also during the fest, Acro Flying will be demonstrated by expert pilots from Austria Mike Laengle and Prin Peterson from USA, he mentioned and further added that the PAI website got tremendous response from all over the world.
A total number of 58 persons will be participating in the festival out of which 9 are special invitees. Paragliders from United Kingdom, Austria, United States, Sweden, South Africa and Nepal will be participating in the festival.
On 02 November at 3 PM, an interactive session with the Editor of Cross Country Magazine, Ed-Ewing from UK will be held at Manan Kendra, Development Area.