ITANAGAR, Nov 10: The third edition of ‘Basar Confluence’, popularly known as BasCon, is scheduled to be held at the confluence of the Hei and the Kidi rivers in Basar in West Siang district from 19 to 21 November.
BasCon is an event that celebrates the art, music and culture of the Galo tribe.
Addressing media persons at the press club here on Saturday, BasCon publicity in-charge Doni Riba said the event would be “a complete package for revellers and tourists alike, and feature a plethora of art, music and culture of the people of Basar area in particular and the Galo tribe in general.”
The festivities would also feature a traditional fishing event at the Si river. Riba said hundreds of people are expected to participate in it.
“Apart from showcasing cultural performances by different tribes of Arunachal Pradesh and the Northeast, performances by the Barmer Boys, Fiddlers, Omak Komut Collective, and Nikom Riba will add flavour to the festival,” he said.
Riba informed that one of the major chapters of BasCon is the artists’ residency programme, as a part of which a handful of artists are spending a month with the villagers and will come up with projects inspired by their stay.
Some of the other attractions of the event are “live museum, cycling for nature, treks and nature trails, birding trip on 17 and 18 November, live weaving competition, a storytelling stall where visitors can listen to the folklore of the Galo tribe, and participating in harvesting of paddy in the field with the locals,” Riba said.
Informing that BasCon’s objective is to boost the socioeconomic condition of the people through cultural tourism, Riba claimed that the people’s enthusiasm for the event has more than doubled since the last two editions of BasCon.
He also informed that the organisers have totally prohibited the use of plastic at the festival ground.
On being asked about accommodation, Riba said, “This year we have enough accommodations for the visitors, with the coming up of several home-stays by the local people.” Besides these, tented accommodation would also be available, he said.
It may be mentioned here that Basar Confluence is a brainchild of Gumin Rego Kilaju.
