Itanagar, Aug 22: Governor Lt Gen (Retd) KT Parnaik has called for positioning the Ziro Festival of Music as a catalyst for promoting Arunachal Pradesh's rich cultural heritage, sustainable tourism, youth empowerment and local livelihoods.
The Governor made the observation when Ziro Festival co-founders Bobby Hano and Anup Kutty called on him at Lok Bhavan here on Saturday. The festival team briefed him on the annual Ziro Festival and its outreach initiative, ‘Ziro On Tour – Valley Vibe, City Tribe’, aimed at taking the music, culture, artists and creative communities of Arunachal Pradesh and the wider Northeast to audiences across the country and abroad.
Appreciating the organisers for successfully conducting the festival over the years, Parnaik said the Ziro Festival had grown beyond being a music event and had the potential to become an important platform for cultural exchange, tourism promotion and economic opportunities for local communities.
He advised the organisers to preserve the festival’s authenticity and ensure that its growth does not come at the cost of the region’s cultural character and fragile environment.
“Ziro Festival must continue to inspire visitors while bringing pride and prosperity to the State,” the Governor said.
Parnaik stressed that the festival and its outreach programmes should remain firmly rooted in the traditional culture of the tribal communities and the indigenous heritage of Arunachal Pradesh. While contemporary music and participation of artists from different parts of the world have contributed to the festival’s appeal, he said equal emphasis should be placed on traditional music, folk arts, local cuisine, handicrafts and indigenous knowledge systems.
He observed that cultural tourism becomes meaningful and sustainable when visitors are able to experience the authentic traditions, lifestyle and heritage of the host community.
The Governor also emphasised environmental responsibility, particularly in view of the growing popularity of the festival. He advised the organisers to maintain the ecological character of the Ziro Valley and promote responsible tourism practices so that the festival’s expansion remains compatible with environmental conservation.
During the meeting, the festival team informed the Governor of its plans to take the Ziro Festival experience to Hyderabad, Puducherry and Chandigarh under the ‘Ziro On Tour’ initiative. The organisers said such expansion would require sponsorship support and coordination with the respective states.
Parnaik advised the team to take up the proposal with the State Government so that necessary coordination with the concerned states and mobilisation of sponsorship could be facilitated. He also assured the organisers of all possible assistance at his level.
The Governor said the outreach initiative could help create greater national and international visibility for Arunachal Pradesh’s music, culture and creative talent. He encouraged the organisers to use such platforms to showcase local artists and creative communities while creating opportunities for young people.
He particularly stressed the need to involve local youth in event management, hospitality, content creation, cultural performances, tourism services and other activities associated with the festival. Such participation, he said, would help young people acquire skills, generate employment and become active contributors to the State’s creative and tourism economy.
Parnaik also called for dedicated platforms for farmers, artisans, weavers and local entrepreneurs during the festival. Such platforms, he said, could provide producers and entrepreneurs with direct access to visitors and markets, thereby strengthening rural livelihoods.
He said initiatives of this nature would complement the broader objectives of ‘Vocal for Local’, ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ and Viksit Bharat@2047 by linking cultural celebration with economic empowerment.
The Governor further encouraged the organisers to explore ways of making the festival more inclusive by providing opportunities to local communities to showcase their products, traditional skills, cuisine and cultural practices.
Hano and Kutty expressed gratitude to the Governor for his guidance and assured him of their commitment to promoting Arunachal Pradesh’s culture, tourism and creative economy through the Ziro Festival and ‘Ziro On Tour’ initiatives.
The meeting underscored the potential of the Ziro Festival not only as a major cultural and music event but also as a platform for strengthening Arunachal Pradesh’s tourism profile, supporting local livelihoods and giving the State’s young creative talent greater opportunities on national and international platforms.