Post funeral festival comes to an end in Meghalaya

Shillong, Feb 2 (UNI) The two-day ''Chugan Festival'', a post-funeral celebration of the Atongs, a sub-tribe of the Garos in Meghalaya, concluded last Tuesday at Karukal village in South Garo Hills district.

It was for the first time that the Atongs celebrated this festival at Karukol village located about 400 kilometres from here near the Indo-Bangla border.

State's Minister-in-charge Tourism Robert Garnet Lyngdoh said the South Garo Hills district has much to offer in terms of eco-tourism and has the potential of being a good tourist destination.

Mr Lyngdoh urged upon the NGOs to submit proposals for development of necessary infrastructure for tourism industry.

Emphasising on the need for maintenance of peace, Mr Lyngdoh who also looks after the Home portfolio said agitations and strikes serve no purpose other than destruction of resources.

In her brief speech, Meghalaya Toursim Development Corporation Chairperson Deborah C Marak said that materialism and influence of other cultures has corrupted the minds of the Garos in the recent years.

The festival was organised by Karukol-based NGO, the Southern Youth and Cultural Organisation.

UNI