IMPHAL, Oct 28: The “Barak Festival,” designed to promote adventure sports, art, and culture from Northeast India, is set to take place in Silchar, Cachar, Assam, from January 10-12, 2025. This three-day event is being organized by the Knowledge Resource Centre Foundation (KRC Foundation) in partnership with the Barak-Manipur Friendship Association (BMFA).
Biswadeep Gupta, Managing Trustee of KRC Foundation and President of BMFA, stated that the festival aims to celebrate and showcase the region’s rich cultural and adventure offerings. A significant aspect of the festival will be an adventure sports segment led by specialists from Manipur, with Ng. Pobitro Singh serving as Project Director for the Adventure Sports and Disaster Response Force. Singh highlighted the vital role of adventure sports in equipping young people with essential survival skills and preparing them for global challenges, especially those related to climate change. He expressed, “Our goal is to establish a Disaster Response Force across Northeast India to tackle future challenges, promote skilled voluntarism, and enhance climate awareness.”
Alongside adventure sports, the festival will feature an E-Sports segment overseen by Dr. David Keneingutuo Sorunuo from Nagaland. Dr. Sorunuo pointed out the increasing significance of E-Sports in fostering competition, entertainment, and community involvement, asserting, “The future of E-Sports is vibrant and full of opportunities for both players and fans.”
The festival will include exhibitions, interactive events, and competitions in art, culture, adventure sports, and E-Sports, drawing participants from across Northeast India. Various prizes, certificates, and cash awards will be distributed across different categories.
Named after the Barak River, which originates in Manipur’s Senapati district, this year’s festival will emphasize the cultural diversity along the river’s course, particularly in Manipur. The KRC Foundation will also highlight its ongoing campaigns, such as the River Dialogue Conclave, Water Conservation, and the Disaster Response Force.
The event is expected to attract students from schools and universities, along with youth, VIPs, and trade delegations from Northeast Indian states and West Bengal. An online global competition focusing on the works of Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Sukanta Bhattacharya will also be launched during Diwali/Kali Puja.
Other notable highlights of the festival will include a film festival, a Policy Conclave focused on the Barak Valley and the Act East Policy, and the 5E for Success program aimed at connecting students with corporate careers. An anticipated Buyer-Seller-Investor Meet and a Barak River Conclave will address the river’s significance and welcome delegates from across India and abroad, including foreign envoys and NRIs associated with the region.
