Dooars Utsav concludes with record participation, enthusiasm

Alipurduar: The 19th edition of the Dooars Utsav concluded on Sunday with remarkable fanfare, drawing massive crowds and setting mnew benchmarks.

Over the course of 11 days, approximately 18,000 artists from the Dooars region, along with 70 celebrated performers from Mumbai and Kolkata, participated in the festival held at the Parade Ground.

The event witnessed an unprecedented turnout, with the festival committee estimating that nearly 10 lakh people were directly or

indirectly involved. According to Sourav Chakraborty, General Secretary of the organising committee, said: “The Dooars Utsav continues to be one of the most popular events in the region, second only to Durga Puja. This year, the festival generated a turnover of approximately

Rs 100 crore.” The festival celebrated the region’s rich cultural diversity, featuring performances by 24 tribal communities who showcased their traditional art and heritage.

A significant highlight was the participation of about 5,000 child artists, with nearly 2,000 children taking part in a sit-and-

draw competition. On the final day, the committee honoured 15 individuals with prestigious awards such as the Dooars Bhushan, Dooars Ratna, and Dooars Samman. In total, 265 individuals were honoured for their contributions to society, including poets, writers, and achievers from various fields, with a large number of recipients belonging to tribal communities.

The festival attracted prominent state ministers, including Maloy Ghatak, Indranil Sen and Snehasis Chakraborty, who graced the occasion on different days. Special arrangements were made to involve tea garden workers, school students, and persons with special needs, ensuring inclusivity in the celebrations. Encouraged by the overwhelming response, Sourav Chakraborty announced plans to seek international recognition for the Dooars Utsav. “We will begin efforts to secure global acknowledgement of this festival from tomorrow,” he stated.