Gangtok, Mar 25: For the second year in a row the Rabong Discovered Tourist Festival will be held this year on the banks of the picturesque lake Cho-zo, about one km from Rabong town from April 8 to 14.

Chief Patron of the festival and the state Urban Development Minister D D Bhutia told newsmen here that initially the date was fixed from April 2 to 6, but was rescheduled on the demand of the people.

The local people wanted Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who is scheduled to return to Sikkim after completing his European tour in the first week of next month, to inaugurate the festival.

The festival is being organised by the Rabongla Tourism Development Committee (RTDC) with the support of the State Commerce and Industries department to develop the place as a major tourist spot in the state.

Mr Bhutia said two tree houses built at the venue of the festival would be the major attrraction of the festival this time. The visiting tourists could stay in the houses. The tree house concept is new to the state and has been built at the festival venue for the first time, he added.

The main features of the festival are-orchid show, exhibition -cum-sale of handicrafts, cultural programme like, concerts, food festival, fashion show, adventure sports, ecotourism and congregation of Jhakris.

Participants from the all the seven north eastern states, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Bhutan have been invited to put up their stall to sell their handicrafts, handloom and fine arts.

Fashoin shows by local choreographers, designers and models from Kolkata would be an added attraction, Mr Bhutia said.

UNI