A four-day Sikkim tribal festival to promote tribal culture, music, dance, sports and cuisine of Sikkim is going to be organized at Namprikdang ground in Dzongu of Sikkim from December 26.
The annual festival is being organized by Tribal Research Institute (TRI), the state Social Welfare Department in collaboration with north district administration and Namprikdang Namsoong Celebration Committee.
The festival is being sponsored by Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Briefing the media at Gangtok on Saturday, State Social Welfare secretary, Sarala Rai said the inauguration of the tribal festival will be attended by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, secretary, Rajesh Agarwal on December 26 next.
Rai further informed various issues and problems related to the tribal population of the state of Sikkim will be placed before the secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs during his visit to the state. These will include the demand for granting tribal status to 11 tribes of the state which is under consideration by the Central Government.
Various other issues, problems and shortcomings of the Tribal Research Institute (TRI), Sikkim will also be taken up with the secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the secretary of the Social Welfare department added.
Several activities highlighting the tribal life of the State have been lined up for showcasing during the tribal festival.
The organizers will also felicitate achievers from the tribal communities in the fields of academics, sports, entrepreneurship and the likes during the tribal festival.
The Namprikdang festival will also be attended by delegates from tribal communities of other states, particularly of the North-east and scholars working on tribal communities of Sikkim in general and the country in general.