After 2-year gap, Mizoram hosts Anthurium Festival 2019 at Reiek

Aizawl: After a hiatus of two years, the Mizoram tourism department in collaboration with the state horticulture department organised the much-awaited Anthurium Festival 2019 at Reiek Tourist Resort, a popular tourist hub located 30 km from state capital Aizawl. The two-day festival will end on October 5.

The tourist resort has been decorated with different varieties of anthurium and arrangements of flowers, which have over the years brought the florists of Mizoram more export business in the sector.

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The state tourism department has sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for this festival.

For the first time, the festival was announced plastic-free in tandem with the ‘Plastic Free City Project’ to be announced by the Aizawl Municipal Corporation soon.

As has been the tradition, this year too, the festival witnessed colourful display of the various traditional Mizo dances and performances by artistes during the two days of the event.

Speaking at the inauguration, chief minister Zoramthanga said, “The anthurium festival will boost tourism in the years to come. Tourism needs to go hand in hand with preparedness, and in this respect, various developments are taking place to make better roads and also augmentation and strengthening of the airport.”

She state tourism minister Robert Romawia Royte addressed the inauguration and expressed gratitude on the continuation of the festival after a gap of two years. He also mentioned that the DoNER ministry has sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the development of tourism in Mizoram.

Besides the cultural shows and performances by local artists, other activities to attract tourists include trekking to the famous Reiek hill-top,traditional Mizo villages, airgun shooting by the Mizoram Rifle Association, food courts, souvenir stalls by the KVI, fashion show and costume parade.

Another addition to this year’s festival includes tents, which are constructed within the forests of the mountain and can be rented on a nightly basis.

Anthurium Festival was first held in 2006 at Reiek Tourist Resort, and was continued as an annual event till 2016.