GANGTOK, Nov. 13. - The authorities of Sikkim's tourism
and culture department are busy devising ways to counter the culture
shock caused by the relentless impact of fast food and a western lifestyle.
And they don't mind aiming beneath the
belt - more precisely the stomachs of food connoisseurs and the
state's thriving tourist population, who are being served with the
choicest of ethnic cuisine in a month-long food festival scheduled
to begin here on 14 November. `Ethnic Sikkimese food has somewhat
lost its sheen in recent years, mainly due to extensive invasion
by western fast food,` said Mr KK Pradhan, joint secretary, department
of tourism. `Of late, Sikkim has become synonymous with only its
breathtaking natural beauty, but we want to prove that there is
much more to Sikkim than its picturesque locales.` The tourism department
also plans to do away with the much-in-vogue term 'tourist season'.
`There is no such thing as an off-season in the tourism industry,
and we will ensure that the season does not end any time in Sikkim,`
said a senior department official. For starters, the department
plans a series of festivals and cultural events in the months to
come, to be flagged off by the food festival. Senior officials said
here that the festival would showcase exotic dishes. Every community
here, be it the Lepchas, the Nepalis or the Bhutias, have their
own native dishes, Mr Pradhan said, adding that some of them may
just vanish due to the dearth of appreciation for them. The department
has received an overwhelming response, and entries have surfaced
from all over the state, promising a delightful experience of traditional
Sikkimese cuisine.
The tourism department, in association with several
clubs and NGOs, has also organised several other events that complement
the food festival. These events include a motorcycle rally through
the state's mountainous terrain on 23 November, a song and cultural
dance festival during the festival month and an open-air live performance
by a leading jazz band from Mumbai, to be held on Gangtok's MG Road.
Courtesy
The Statesman |
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