Assam Spring Festival organised at Manas National Park

April 8, 2018

The two-day Assam Spring Festival was held at Manas National Park. It was organised by Indian Weavers’ Association and Swankar Mithinga Onsai Afat, an association of reformed poachers in Manas who are now engaged in wildlife conservation and preservation.

Key Facts

The aim of the festival was to promote local food and culture of fringe villagers. It also attempted to create model of alternative livelihood through food, handloom and culture. The itinerary of festival included village tours, exposition of local handicraft and handloom, cultural showcase, local folk music and tasting of local cuisines and delicacies. It saw participation of over 300 domestic and foreign tourists. Residents of fringe villages that dot National Park gave tourists experience of lifetime by offering them peek into their rural lives.

Manas National Park

Manas National Park (or Manas wildlife sanctuary) is UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve in Assam. It is home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species viz. tiger, pygmy hog, Indian one horn rhinoceros and Indian elephant. It is located in Himalayan foothills and is contiguous with Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. It covers five districts of Assam- Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri and Barpeta. The Manas river, a major tributary of Brahmaputra River passes through heart of national park.