INTACH NE Rice Festival from February 26
Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | February 25
The Nagaland Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is set to host the ‘North East Festival of Rice: Grains of Heritage,’ beginning February 26 at the Agri Expo, 4th Mile, Chümoukedima.
Sentila Yanger, State Convener of INTACH Nagaland, told a press conference that the concept was originally planned in 2019 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter revived the initiative in 2025 to create a platform that unites the region through a shared dietary staple.
“The Festival of Rice is an idea to bring the whole of the Northeast in a never-before festival,” Yanger said, noting that the event runs until February 28.
Mhathung Yanthan, MLA and Advisor for Agriculture, will inaugurate the festival at 10:00 am.
Thangi Mannen, Life Member of INTACH and a retired bureaucrat, highlighted the environmental necessity behind the event. She noted that global warming and climate change are severely impacting the agriculture sector, leading to the gradual disappearance of indigenous rice varieties.
“We are now importing a lot of rice from outside the state which is really not suited to our climate,” Mannen said. She pointed out that unlike imported grains, indigenous rice has adapted to local conditions over time. The festival aims to address the conservation of heritage grains and educate the public on the versatility of rice through exhibitions and market stalls.
The event includes a two-day seminar focusing on issues such as climate change, heirloom seeds, and genetically modified organisms. Yanger confirmed that the Department of Agriculture and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are collaborating on the project, with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) from various states setting up exhibitions.
Additionally, the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) will merge its Spring Festival with the event, bringing in dance troupes to showcase rice-related celebrations.
Regarding participation, Yanger stated that over 150 farmers from Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland are expected to attend, alongside participants from the School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Medziphema.
“Every indigenous culture of the Northeast has its festivals surrounding the practice of rice,” Yanger added, describing the event as a platform to appreciate the region's rice traditions.
