The five-day annual festival of IIC promises to showcase Northeast’s culture through its dance, theatre, music, literature, cuisine and much more

India’s Northeast states are an unexplored paradise, with a treasure trove of culture and traditions. Keeping this in mind, the annual festival of India International Centre (IIC), The IIC Experience, is themed on the cultural richness and diversity of these states, which will be presented through dance, music, theatre, films, discussions and exhibitions.

Titled Experiencing the North East, it will portray the region in a manner which goes beyond its conventional representation by highlighting the continuity of traditions and exploring their intersection with the contemporary.

The festival will open with a performance by Shillong Chamber Choir, conducted by Neil Nongkynrih. Other highlights include a concert by Moirang Sai and Lai Haraoba by Mangka Mayanglambam from Manipur; contemporary theatre production by Lapdiang Syiem from Meghalaya; a rock concert by Girish and the Chronicles from Sikkim; and Raas Leela from Manipur on the last day.

Apart from these, the program also includes exhibitions of handicrafts, textiles and photographs, featuring the north eastern states. This year, the festival has devoted a day to literature, presenting writers and poets from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland. The film festival will celebrate renowned director Aribam Syam Sharma’s contribution to Manipuri cinema and to the Indian cinema as a whole, with a screening of his award-winning films, which he will personally introduce.

“No festival is complete without food,” adds Naresh Verma, the director of IIC. Traditional Meitei temple food of Manipur, Khasi meal, Assamese food prepared by Utpala Mukherjee, Sikkimese food by Nimtho Restaurant and a Naga dinner — the festival has it all.

Urging all to be a part of the celebrations, Verma hopes that everyone in the city from the Northeast feels at home in the festival. Open to all and without tickets or invitations, the 15th edition of the festival will commence from October 27 and continue till October 31. Drop in to experience the varied and vibrant culture of Northeast.