Tourist Festival concludes in Lachen

GANGTOK, 07 Feb: The two-day Tourist Festival at Lachen, North Sikkim concluded on 02 February. The festival was organized by the Lachen Tourism Development Committee [LTDC] with the support of Lachen Dzumsa.
The first day of the festival was attended by Pipons Cho Rabjor and Cho Bandhu of Lachen Dzumsa as the chief guest. Traditional cultural performances by local artists and traditional games were organized on the day.
The second day of the fest saw performances by artists from outside the state and a musical show. The main highlight of the program was making the entire program a complete ‘Zero Waste Program’, the release mentions. LTDC focused on the principles of zero waste and did not use plastic cups or plates this year unlike previous years.
A display of craft made from waste was also made by WWF-India, which also demonstrated the bio-briquette (Matola), which can be used as an alternative to fuel wood. The communities also showed their interest in learning the making of bio briquette and crafts from waste, the release adds.
Since the concluding day of the festival also happened to be the World Wetlands Day, the importance of wetlands and its biodiversity was also highlighted by WWF-India, it is mentioned.
LTDC, Dzumsa members and the Pipons felicitated MP Rajya Sabha, Hishey Lachungpa, MLA, TW Lepcha, Staff of the Power Department, Director of Ganjung Diyaghar of Kalimpong and WWF-India, Sikkim Office for their continuous support and guidance.
Chewang Lachenpa [executive member LTDC] highlighted the activities carried out by the LTDC in the fields of tradition and culture preservation, tourism promotion and environment conservation in the last six years. He also mentioned that the magazine ‘Down to Earth’ had also published an article on the solid waste management initiative of Lachen where special mention was made of the ban on use of plastic mineral water bottles in the village thereby becoming the first village in India to impose such a ban.
Resource Recovery Center where all segregated household wastes can be stored and sent for recycling was also inaugurated during the said occasion by MP, Hishey Lachungpa, the release informs.
Other Officials who attended the festival were Upadhyaksha North, Brigadier 112 Mountain Brigade of the Indian Army, SDM and Officials from the Police Department.
[from PRABIN KHALING]