Tura, June 24: The town of Ampati in South West Garo Hills came alive on Tuesday with the celebration of the first-ever Te•brong (Jackfruit) Festival, themed “A Sweet Summer Celebration.” Held at the Bado Multi-Facility Centre, the festival showcased the rich cultural, culinary and economic value of jackfruit.

Organised by the District Administration, Department of Tourism and Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS), the event drew large crowds and brought together local communities, SHGs, government departments, and entrepreneurs.

The festival was inaugurated by Mahendraganj MLA Sanjay A. Sangma and Rangsakona MLA Subir M. Marak, in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Hema Nayak, SP Vikas Kumar and other senior officials. The day began with music, a welcome address, and speeches on the importance of promoting local produce and rural entrepreneurship.

DC Hema Nayak, speaking to Hub News, said the festival was born out of a simple observation: jackfruit, though abundant in the region, was no longer popular among the youth.

“This festival is our way of reviving interest in local food while showing its economic value. The stalls today prove what local entrepreneurs can do,” she said.

She added that the Te•brong reflects the essence of Garo Hills—its forests, food culture, and natural abundance—and stressed the need to incorporate local produce into daily diets to address nutrition gaps among school children.

MLA Sanjay Sangma spoke about the jackfruit’s versatility—from its nutritional benefits to the usefulness of its wood—while MLA Subir Marak encouraged youth to explore jackfruit-based ventures, citing successful local enterprises like Muktidata Multipurpose Society, makers of the popular “Nokma” jackfruit ice cream.

Ten stalls set up by SHG members and departments displayed a variety of jackfruit-based products and crafts. The crowd enjoyed an Indigenous Cooking Competition, a Te•brong Eating Contest with 64 participants, and the Heaviest Jackfruit Competition, which was won by Arfeush S. Sangma with a massive 37.89 kg fruit.

Winners included Jeshmina S. Marak for the cooking contest and Remington Sangma for the eating challenge. The day ended with a lively inter-departmental tug-of-war, where the District Sports Office defeated the Police Department in the finals.

Additional DC & DPO Dolrich B.G. Momin and Tourist Officer Colin Jeffrey Ch Marak also addressed the crowd, highlighting the importance of such festivals in promoting tourism and community pride.

DC Nayak further noted that the district is pushing forward with initiatives like a rural hub for cashew processing and other agri-based projects aimed at boosting local livelihoods.

The Te•brong Festival proved to be more than just a cultural celebration. It served as a platform for community connection, youth engagement, and economic opportunity—while reminding everyone of the value hidden in the fruits of their own land.

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