Three-day long fest organised to mark golden jubilee of Indo-Bhutan ties

Darjeeling: A three-day long Sports Fest has been organised to mark the golden jubilee of formal diplomatic relations between India

and Bhutan.

The Royal Bhutan Army and the Indian Army will take part in the fest at Binnaguri.

The Royal Bhutan Army team comprising 17 officers and 47 soldiers arrived on Tuesday to take part in the fest.

The fest was inaugurated on Wednesday by Major General A Arun, General Officer Commanding Kirpan Division along with Coloner Sherub Dorji of the Royal Bhutan Army.

The inauguration ceremony included staging of famous Bhangra dance and Janjh Pathak, a martial dance form of Maharashtra.

The army Pipe band played the national anthems of both the countries.

The opening ceremony was followed by a basketball match between the teams of both the armies.

The next two days will witness a football match, golf tournament and a 12 km cross country race. Several cultural programmes depicting the rich culture of both the countries will be showcased in the fest.

The famous bamboo dance of Mizoram, Chaila dance of Kumaon; Mallakhamb display from Maharashtra, Taekwondo and popular Bhutanese songs were presented by the Indian Army performers.