Williamnagar, Dec 19: The two-day Simsang Festival 2025 got underway on December 18 at the WDSA Playground in Williamnagar, celebrating the region’s rich cultural heritage while providing a platform for local artisans, farmers and entrepreneurs.
The inaugural programme was attended by local MLA and Cabinet Minister Marcuise N. Marak, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest, along with Nihim D. Shira, Chairman of the State Planning Board. Deputy Commissioner of East Garo Hills, R. P. Marak, welcomed the gathering.
The opening ceremony featured a cultural showcase, beginning with a Wangala dance performed by students of Williamnagar Government College. This was followed by a musical presentation, “Sound of Simsanggre,” by the youth of Williamnagar, and a folk song titled “Akai Simsanggre” by students of Rongrenggre Higher Secondary School. A dance performance by Dambesa M. Sangma and group and a song by Avril S. Marak further added colour to the programme.
Addressing the gathering, Marcuise N. Marak thanked the district administration for organising the festival and underlined the role of such events in preserving indigenous traditions while generating economic opportunities for local communities. He highlighted the Meghalaya Government’s vision of achieving a 10-billion-dollar economy under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, stressing that inclusive growth, infrastructure development, tourism promotion and support for local entrepreneurship are central to this goal.
The Minister also noted that special emphasis is being placed on the development of Garo Hills to ensure that growth reaches the grassroots level. He encouraged local producers and artisans to utilise the festival as a platform to promote self-reliance and strengthen the local economy.
Following the inaugural programme, the Chief Guest and other dignitaries visited the festival stalls. Around 90 stalls have been set up this year, showcasing a wide range of indigenous products and offering local vendors an opportunity to generate income.
The Simsang Festival 2025 is expected to boost tourism, promote cultural heritage and provide livelihood opportunities for the local community over the two-day event.
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