Ampati, the district headquarters of South West Garo Hills, came alive on Tuesday with the celebration of the first-ever Te•brong (Jackfruit) Festival.
Organised by the district administration and the Tourism Department, the day-long festival honoured the rich cultural significance, culinary potential and economic value of the jackfruit. The festival brought together communities, government departments, SHGs, and local entrepreneurs to spotlight the potential of jackfruit as a cultural and economic asset.
The festival was graced by Sanjay A Sangma, MLA of Mahendraganj, and Subir M Marak, MLA of Rangsakona. Deputy Commissioner Hema Nayak, Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar, and other senior officials from line departments also attended alongside a large gathering of government employees, students, and the general public.
Stalls put up by SHGs and government departments showcased an array of jackfruit-based and locally processed food products. Competitions including indigenous cooking, jackfruit eating, and heaviest jackfruit contest drew enthusiastic participation and applause from the crowd. A live music performance and an inter-departmental tug-of-war added entertainment and team spirit to the day.
In his address, Sanjay A Sangma spoke about the versatile value of jackfruit, from its nutritional properties to the utility of its wood and shared personal anecdotes that resonated with the audience. Subir Marak encouraged young people to embrace jackfruit for its health benefits and highlighted successful local enterprises like Muktidata Multipurpose Society Ltd., creators of the popular “Nokma” jackfruit ice cream. He also noted the MDA government’s ongoing support for grassroots entrepreneurship and agri-based startups.
The DC, Hema Nayak, in her inaugural address, emphasised the district’s untapped potential in agriculture and fisheries. Speaking about the idea behind the festival, she said, “Jackfruit reflects the very essence of Garo Hills, its forests, its food culture, and its abundance. We wanted to create a platform to raise awareness about its economic value and encourage local youth and entrepreneurs to explore its full potential”.
She also voiced concern over nutrition gaps among school children and urged the community to leverage local produce in daily diets to improve health and well-being.
Among the many activities were, Indigenous Cooking Competition which was won by Jeshmina S. Marak, Jackfruit Eating Contest which was won by Remington Sangma and Heaviest Jackfruit Competition which was won by Arfeush S. Sangma, whose jackfruit weighed an impressive 37.89 kg
The festival concluded with a spirited tug-of-war competition between inter-departmental teams, with the District Sports Office emerging victorious over the Police Department in the finals.
