Andaman's ITF carnival kicks off tomorrow

Port Blair, Jan 7 (UNI) Andaman and Nicobar Tourism Department is all set to organise the much-awaited mega carnival - Island Tourism Festival (ITF) from tomorrow.

Bollywood artists, famous dancers, singers, poets from across India have been invited to perform during the festival, territory's tourism department official said.

Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lt Gen. (Retd) Bhopinder Singh would inaugurate the mega event, the official said.

Earlier, the 13-day long event was usually organised in December.

'' In 2004 we were not able to organise the ITF because of tsunami disaster but from 2005 we are back again,'' the official added.

Nearly 300 cultural and folk dance artists from all over the country will also perform at the ITF. The administration had already tied up with the North, South, West and East Zone Cultural centres, sources said.

Events like baby show, dog show, flower show and competitions for school students will be the main attraction of ITF.

The estimated budget of the festival is Rs 50 lakhs, official sources said.

The festival is being organised in the island to attract more and more tourists every year, This year about 1,20,000 tourists have already visited the islands, Andaman's Tourism Department PRO Rana Mathew said.

Besides the sylvan beaches and lush green islands, lone active volcano, Bareen, Mud Volcano of Baratang, turtle nesting, cellular jail are some of the other important attractions of these virgin islands.

UNI