Ashtalakshmi Festival

Why in News?

Ashtalakshmi Festival, a cultural event related to Northeast India, will be held from 6 to 8 December 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

• Objective: The festival aims to promote interaction and economic opportunities in the areas of traditional handicrafts, handlooms, agricultural products and tourism of the region to promote economic growth and progress of the Northeast region.
  • This festival is being organized for the first time which is based on the vision of making the Northeast region the engine of India's growth.
• The eight incarnations of Lakshmi (prosperity, opulence, purity, wealth, knowledge, duty, agriculture and animal husbandry) symbolize the prosperity of the Northeast.
  • The eight states of Northeast India, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim are also called 'Ashtalakshmi' or eight forms of prosperity.
• Organisers and Managers: This festival is being organised by the Ministry of Development of Northeast Region and managed by 'Northeast Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation Limited'.
• Mascot: 'Poorvi' has been made the mascot of the festival. 'Poorvi' is a young girl representing all the eight states of Northeast India.
• • It has been envisaged to keep this mascot as a symbol of the Northeast region even after the event.

Programs to be organised in the festival:

• Artisans' Exhibition: In this, more than 250 artisans and entrepreneurs of the Northeast region will exhibit handicrafts, handloom and agro-horticultural products and 34 GI tagged products.
• Various Sessions: Technical sessions will be organised on key areas for the development of the Northeast region such as women leadership, IT, energy, healthcare, sports, arts and culture.
  • A comprehensive session titled “Towards Prosperity: Accelerating the Northeast’s progress towards a developed India” will also be organised during the festival, which aims to highlight the region’s important role in driving the country’s progress.
• Investor Roundtable: The Investor Roundtable is designed as a unique opportunity to build and strengthen networks, partnerships and joint initiatives. It focuses on providing various opportunities for business development and new investments in the Northeast.
• Design Conclave and Fashion Show: The rich handloom and handicraft traditions of Northeast India will be showcased on a national platform with the aim of creating a platform of knowledge for design students.
• Ashtalakshmi Gramin Haat: It will be set up to showcase a wide variety of indigenous products by more than 300 artisans, organic producers and farmers from Northeast India.
• Cultural Performances: The festival will feature traditional folk dances of Northeast India. It will include Bihu dance of Assam, folk dances of Nagaland and other traditional art forms.
• Bankers Summit: Bankers Summit will also be organised to strengthen the banking infrastructure in the Northeast and improve access to credit and financial services for entrepreneurs and start-ups.