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.

From shop keeping to becoming a knitting entrepreneur- The story of Malpleasha Mylliemngap

Shillong | March 8, 2023

Malpleasha Mylliemngap, is a mother of 5 who hails from Laitkroh, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. Prior to taking up knitting garments as a full fledged business activity, her main source of livelihood was through shop keeping. Knitting was only a hobby before she took it up as a livelihood activity.

It was on days when her shopkeeping business was very low that she started knitting boots for babies through which she received many other orders because of the unique designs and quality products. Soon after, she also got orders for knitted scarves and shawls. Through her undivided commitment and perseverance, more orders came in for knitted caps, socks, purses, hoodies and dresses. She extensively relied on YouTube tutorials to learn different techniques and designs.

She also started a knitting class at the cost of five hundred rupees (₹500/-) per person where she provides training to the youth not only to upskill them but for employment generation. She has created a name for herself in her village and her daughter who is also a nurse makes time amidst her busy schedule to learn her mother’s craft.

Malpleasha wishes to expand her business and be able to be completely depend on it for her daily sustenance. As the knitting process is a tedious one that requires a lot of time and patience along with skills, it was a challenge for her to complete all orders on time because she did not have additional skilled manpower to help her. She also struggles with the lack of readily available and cheaper wool. The wool that she uses is bought from Shillong which is approximately 25km from her village.

Her enthusiasm for knitting led her to get identified under the PRIME Sauramandala Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (PSREF), a project under PRIME Meghalaya. Now she also hopes to come up with an official brand name for her products and also be financially able to purchase machines to produce uniform products. She was able to make the most use of support provided to her as part of the PRIME programme that helped her realize her potential.

This article has been featured in collaboration with PRIME Entrepreneurship Meghalaya. To know more about PRIME, visit: https://www.primemeghalaya.com/