Jorhat, Jan. 29: The ethos of conservation and the commercial considerations of tourism will find a meeting ground during the second edition of the Assam Elephant Festival, which gets under way at Kaziranga National Park tomorrow.
The issue that is expected to dominate the seminars organised as part of the festival is the man-elephant conflict in the vicinity of wildlife habitats. UK-based elephant conservationist Mark Chan, whose surname might attract more attention than his pioneering work, has been invited to the three-day festival as a state guest. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi will inaugurate the festival, which will begin with a procession of bedecked elephants and cultural troupes from the Kohora range of the national park to the site of the festival, Mihimukh.
Organising secretary D.K. Nath said a slew of special events had been lined up for tourists. Elephants, as graceful as they are mighty, will play football, compete in a race and pit their strength against one another in a tug of war.
The strong bond between a trained elephant and its mahout will be depicted before the tourists through songs and dances. The highlight of the show will be a dance performance by a year-old calf that was rescued from a flooded area of the park.
?The calf is being looked after at the rehabilitation centre near the national park. It has been taught to dance and we expect its performance to be a big hit with the tourists,? Nath said. Tourists visiting Kaziranga during the festival will be offered the incentive of a cruise on the Diphaloo, which flows through the park. Facilities for adventure sports and a food festival are other attractions.
?Traditional dishes of the Shingpho, Mising, Karbi and Garo tribes will be prepared for the tourists. Anybody visiting the Northeast should not only soak in the sights and sounds of the region, but also get a taste of the unique local cuisine,? Nath said.
Arrangements have been made to accommodate some tourists in the private residences near the national park. ?Most of the lodges and guesthouses within the park are booked for the festival. Tourists who have not booked rooms can stay in the houses near the park by paying very small amounts,? the organising secretary said. Another option for tourists is to visit the nearby tea gardens and spend a night in a field executive?s bungalow.