Shillong, Oct 11: Azim Premji University in collaboration with the Department of Geography, NEHU, Shillong organised ‘Festivals of Life: Where the Rivers, Forests, Mountains, Coasts and Oceans Are!’ from October 5 to 9 at the NEHU campus.
The five-day public climate festival brought together school and college students from Shillong and nearby areas to explore India’s diverse ecosystems through exhibitions, nature walks, talks, films, workshops and cultural performances.
The festival was inaugurated in the presence of NEHU Vice Chancellor Prof SK Barik, Dean School of Environmental Sciences Prof D Walia, Head of Geography Department Prof PK Ryngnga, Prof SK De and Vidya Ramesh from the School of Climate Change and Sustainability, Azim Premji University.
Featuring over 300 exhibition panels, the festival brought together stories from previous editions on rivers, forests, mountains, coasts and oceans. Intern-led talks, nature walks, bamboo craft workshops and film screenings including ‘A Sacred Place’ by Dolly Kikon sparked conversations on indigenous knowledge, ecological change and conservation.
Cultural performances included “Ksing Phong” by Robert Khonglam and December Khongsgam, a performance by Shillong band “Ka Sur Na Nongkyndong, and Jaintia spring dance Chadsukra and Khasi harvest dance Shad Shoh Kba by NEHU students.
The festival saw over 3,000 visitors and was supported by NEHU volunteers. The Shillong edition is part of the travelling Festivals of Life series that began with Rivers of Life in 2022.
Bijoy Sankar Das, Head, Northeastern States, Azim Premji Foundation said the festival is envisioned as the beginning of more such initiatives across Meghalaya and the Northeast.
