Celina Jaitly adds spice to Youth Festival

Borguli, Arunachal, Dec 14 (UNI) It was like return to the roots for former Miss India Celina Jaitly when she along with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang opened the Youth Festival here today.

After lighting the ceremonial lamps when she addressed in local language ''Aipe Alang Ka, Aipe Alang Ka'' (welcome welcome), the crowd screamed in excitement as they greeted their own daughter, now a Bollywood actress.

The beauty queen, dressed in Adi Gale and Galuk (tribal saree and shirt) to the thunderous applause from the crowd, termed Arunachal an enchanting paradise and said she had spent her childhood at Tawang district of the state.

The two-day festival, being organised at Mebo, a tiny hamlet criss-crossed by the tributaries of mighty Brahmaputra, in the state's East Siang district wore a festive look as the festival kicked-off to a colourful start.

Chairman of the festival committee and state Industry Minister Lombo Tayeng said the festival was to channelise the youth power of the state into nation building.

He said the government was encouraging eco-tourism to preserve its rich heritage, flora and fauna.

An Apparel show cum beauty contest, would be the special attraction of the evening where Arunachalee damsels in their best attires would sway down the ramp. Beauty queens of each district for the year 2005 and 2006 have been invited to take part in the show.

Besides folk and cultural competitions, musicians from across the country would perform here. The food festival has been the added attraction where 35 food stalls, 19 apong (local brew) stalls and 9 exhibition stalls were offering various tribal delicacies to the visitors, who have been offered accommodation in eco-tourism huts, especially designed by indigenous materials and built in natural environment.

Round the clock ferry services at Rane Ghat and Komli Ghat have been arranged to facilitate movement of the tourists to Mebo.

UNI UPB PC YA VV1811