KALEZ VALLEY CARNIVAL BLENDS CULTURE AND ECSTASY

via Sikkim Express

HEE BERMOIK, May 11: Torrential rain – clumsy weather, yet spirits high at celebration premises. So came the second day of Kalez Valley Heritage Festival 2007 here at Hee Kyang Bari marking the inauguration of the impressive Chaya Tal Lake.

As against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s failure to attend the second day of the fest because of ill health, the Chaya Tal Lake was formally inaugurated today by the chief guest SB Subedi, Minister for Forest accompanied by area MLA NK Subba. Chaya Tal is reportedly the second artificial lake in Sikkim after Lampokhari at Aritar attracting mammoth numbers of tourists lately.

“We are heading towards a sustainable tourism development, simultaneously solving the problem of unemployment. The boats in the lake will add an extra boost to our vision” said NK Subba speaking to Sikkim Express today.

Meanwhile, the chief guest SB Subedi voiced Hee-Bermiok as a perfect place for village tourism with other value-added tourism activities. “Nestled in the lap of bountiful nature, undoubtedly this place will be an ideal tourist destination in future,” he said. Calling for sustainable development with equal emphasis on the conservation of the environment, Subedi remarked the three festivals were a perfect blend of culture, music and joy.

A ceremony today witnessed the presentation of appointment letters to the four newly selected advisors for Hee Bermiok Tourism Development and Heritage Conservation Society, TR Poudyal (former Secretary), SD Dhakal (JS Culture), Raj Basu (Tourism) and PK Dong (Executive Director to Tourism).

The chief guest also handed over cash payment for vermin-compose, compose pit, water harvesting tank and terracing along with the distribution of work order for the greenhouse. The winners of the marathon were also handed over with trophies, cash prizes and certificates.

A colourful cultural presentation on traditional themes was made during the event today by students of various schools. Delighted at participating in the festival, a tourist from the USA Mark Taylor summed up the fest as, “A perfect place to be with an enterprising development in tourism expansion and tradition conservation”.

The last day of the festival is scheduled to witness one-of-its-kind adventure sport – Mountain Biking.

This was seen on the second day of the Kalez Valley Heritage Festival 2007 here at Hee Kyang Bari under Hee- Bermiok constituency. The Chief Minister Dr Pawan Chamling who was supposed to consent to the second-day celebration could not make it out owing to his ill health. Organized by Hee Bermiok Tourism Development and Heritage Conservation Society for three consecutive years SB Subedi, Minister for Forest along with RB Subba, Minister for Tourism attended the festivity as chief guest and guests of honor respectively.