Meghalaya set to host Northeast Regatta at Umiam

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 25: The state tourism department, in collaboration with Umiam Sailing Club, is set to organize the exciting Northeast Regatta and a thrilling concert extravaganza from April 29, 2023, to May 2, 2023, at the Umiam Watersports Complex.

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Located, about 20 km from Shillong, Umiam is a 220 sq. km man-made reservoir at a little below 1,000 metres or 3,200 feet above sea level.

Following the grand inauguration by state tourism minister Paul Lyngdoh, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma will visit on April 30 to cheer the participants. The event will witness 80 participants from over 10 states across India which includes 12 clubs during this 5-day racing extravaganza.

Teams from the Indian Army and Naval Services along with Uday Foundation Team (The first and only Sailing NGO from India) will be actively taking part.

The purpose of a boat regatta is to promote water sports in the state, enhance tourism, put the location on the world sailing map, produce medalists, and empower youth by creating job opportunities and encouraging participation in workshops.

The event will include boat races, as well as music and cultural events, nature excursions, food and flea markets, a tour package for sailors and tourists, paintball, camping spots, and the introduction of river cruise boats in Umiam. The event is open to any club, team or individuals from the country and is expected to attract approximately 80-100 sailors from 12 clubs, including Army and Navy teams and 6 Class Associations. There will be an electrifying public concert on April 29 and 30, featuring a diverse lineup of local, national, and international artistes. Each performer will bring their unique beats to the stage, making it an unforgettable experience for music lovers.

Day 1 of the concert will feature K-Pop artiste Kim Woojin as the headliner, while Day 2 will showcase Delhi-based band Twin Strings as the headlining act. There are other incredible artistes lined up, including Lynx, Ricaa Stella, Banrap, Rum & Monkeys, LB3, Young Natee, Larger Than 90, and DJ Favian, and many more. These concerts promise to be a mesmerizing experience that will leave one spellbound with their distinct yet divergent sounds. Entry to these concerts is entirely free.

Registration for the event started at 5 pm on April 24 and passes can be availed from https://rockskitickets.com/ner/. This event is the perfect way to unwind, relax and have an unforgettable adventure with one’s friends and family.

Stories of a Shillong boy Part 1: Hill Boy and the Desert

There is a little 10 year old boy in Shillong who has a funny way of looking at things. I call him “Ray” – A named derived from his Khasi first name. I am his mother and this is one of the many stories I have about him.

Now Ray had an intense hate for two subjects in school – science and geography. I’m still drawing nonsensical circles around science, but I think I’ve cracked geography and a geography lesson is one of the most fun things we do together now. I want to talk about a lesson we did a little while ago.

In this lesson, we read about the Thar Desert. The book said something really scary to Ray. It told him that the desert is expanding because we cut down forests and let our cattle eat away all our grasslands. This really worried him. Before we could go on with the lesson, he said, “But I don’t want the desert to reach the Meghalaya.”

I looked at him and said, “It won’t.”

“But the book says that it will.” He insists. “I don’t want to live in a desert.”

I had to think for a bit. See Ray has this way of getting fixated on something and then he dwells on it – a reason why I tutor him myself by redoing every chapter that his teachers have taught in school. His head is full of questions that he would never ask in a classroom kind of space, but he would demand an answer out of me.

“It will not happen tomorrow Ray.” I said, “We’ll all be dead and gone by then. There is no need to stress.”

This did not put him at ease at all. He was worried. “I don’t want to live in India anymore if the desert is growing mei. We have to leave India.”

“There are deserts everywhere.” I said.

“This can happen all over the world?” he asked sounding completely helpless.

“Yes.” I said thinking of Mad Max Fury Road. “But it won’t happen anytime soon. It will probably happen during the time of your great great great great grandchild so you have nothing to worry about.”

This calmed him down for a little while and I was able to finish the lesson. He had his dinner after that, brushed his teeth and got into bed.

As I was tucking him in he said softly, “But I want my great great great great grand son or daughter to live also.”

And it suddenly struck me that even I want my great great great great great grandchild to live.

(This piece has been written by Dalariti Nongpiur with illustrations by Hazel Kharkongor)