Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Dec 9: Swedish band Thunder Mother, along with tribute band The Iron Maidens, and The Bluegrass Journeymen from the USA will perform in the 5th edition of the Orange Festival of Adventure and Music (OFAM) to be held at Dambuk in Lower Dibang Valley district from 15 to 18 December.
“Thunder Mother and The Iron Maidens will be performing on the closing evening of OFAM on the 18th,” the festival’s director, Abu Tayeng, told media persons at the Arunachal Press Club here on Sunday.
He said Indie pop musician from Nepal, Bipul Chetri, and Lydia Henrikje of Germany will also perform during the festival.
The OFAM has hosted some of the best musicians of the country, like Uday Benegal, Lou Majaw, and Grammy Award nominee Lama Tashi, ever since it started in 2012.
The four-day music and adventure extravaganza will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, along with DCM Chowna Mein and JK Tyre & Industries managing director Vikram Malhotra.
“As part of a collaborative promotion, this year Mahindra will be performing their ‘Live Young Live Free’ campaign at Dambuk during the festival. It’s a huge positive sign that OFAM is growing bigger and better,” said Tayeng.
On being asked about security preparedness, Tayeng informed that the student unions of the area are involved in the festival and they, along with the volunteers provided by the organiser, would be assigned to manage the security.
Tayeng informed that that the entry fees and the price of foods at the festival’s venue would be minimal and properly regulated. “We will be charging Rs 1000 for three days, and Rs 2000 on the closing day’s evening, as two international bands would be performing,” he said.
“This edition too we have roped in the prestigious National Institute of Mountaineering & Allied Sports (NIMAS), based in Dirang in West Kameng district, run by the union defence ministry,” Tayeng informed.
He said the NIMAS would conduct adventure activities under their professional supervision and guidance, besides high-adrenalin sports like white water rafting, dirt cycling, ATV rides, parasailing, para motoring, paragliding, scuba diving, etc.
“In adventures sports, 30 off-roaders are taking part in the Orange 4×4 Fury event,” said Lhakpa Tsering, who is the OFAM’s motor sports in-charge.
The OFAM has been promoting motor sports and adventures in the Northeast, in collaborating with JK Tyre.
Lhakpa informed that out of the 30 off-roaders seven are non-resident Indians “who are flying straight from London, Dubai and the USA to participate in the event.”
“The most popular event will no doubt be the Orange 4×4 Fury, to be held in the dense rainforest of Arunachal. The event presents unique challenges to the competitors in the natural form where man and machine are pitted against nature,” Tsering added.
