The state government has decided to introduce an “evening market” at the popular tourist spot in the heart of the city, Ward’s Lake beginning tomorrow.
The project is an initiative of the Meghalaya Tourism Department and will be implemented by Meghalayan Age Ltd till March 31 from Monday to Saturday between 5 pm to 9 pm.
As per an official statement, evening markets are popular attractions that have been a staple for many tourist destinations across the world. They have proven to boost not just the economy but also the quality of life of the residents, it said.
Unlike the regular marketplace, the statement said that the evening market is to build connections through food, arts, craft, music and more. While the various stalls and activities will be organized to engage and entertain guests, the deeper value of the market lies in creating a platform to showcase and encourage the local entrepreneurs, craftsmen, farmers and artists. It also serves as a break from the monotony of commercialization enabling visitors to support these local entrepreneurs while spending quality time in the beautiful and peaceful surrounding of the iconic lake in the heart of the city.
The evening market will host vendors on a rotational basis giving guests a chance to interact with a variety of entrepreneurs over three months.
Apart from the indigenous food and wine stalls, the evening market will also be a place for trade and commerce with a farmer’s market selling organic produce, processed Agro produce such as spices, pickles & beverages and crafts stalls selling handmade goods.
The market will also feature art and photography exhibitions along with other curated experiences to promote the vast pool of talent within the state.
A dedicated kid’s play zone and experiences have also been set up for children.
Music will set the mood for each evening and will be presented by Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (MGMP) which has brought out several talented artists from the state, the statement added.
Entry fee to the market is pegged at Rs 100 and free entry for children below 10 years of age. “The proceeds from each week’s ticket sales will be donated to noteworthy organisations and institutions,” the statement said.
