DIMAPUR, Sept 14 � Nagaland will host the first- ever World Bamboo Day to be held under the aegis of World Bamboo Organisation (WBO) at Heritage Village, Kisama near here on September 18.
While celebrations will be held in different countries across the globe, Nagaland will host the main event and the three-day international celebration, to be held under the theme �Bamboo for Community and Livelihood�, which will be graced by Vice President Dr M Hamid Ansari as chief guest.
Ahead of the WBD celebration, a two-day North East International Bamboo Festival will get underway on September 16 and 17 with seminars on �Bamboo for livelihood and community development,� Investors Meet and Craft Bazaar as the main highlights.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, briefing the media on the programme highlights at Niathu Resort, along with Additional Chief Secretary Alemtemshi Jamir, said Nagaland may have many shortcomings when it comes to infrastructural and technological aspects. However, they averred that the State wants to highlight to the world the fact that it is rich in bamboo and that it has been and still is very much part of our society.
The World Bamboo Day was declared in 2009 in Bangkok, during the 8th World Bamboo Congress which was attended by a Nagaland delegation led by the Chief Minister.
Rio said the honour to host the first WBD was given to Nagaland after the State made a power point presentation. The CM is also a member of the Advisory Council of the World Bamboo Organisation.
Over 500 delegates are expected to participate in the forthcoming celebration with attendance from countries like Japan, France, Korea, Thailand, Norway, US, Italy, Greece, etc, besides participants from different States of India.
Vice President Hamid Ansari is set to be declared an honorary citizen of Naga Heritage Village, Kisama with the unveiling of a monolith.
While the State has a slew of bamboo activities and exhibits to be showcased to the world, it will also inaugurate the Bamboo Heritage Hall being constructed at Kisama.
Other highlights of the celebration will include bamboo run, bamboo sports, bamboo music and food festival, bamboo planting and essay and painting competition.
The Vice President, after the WBD celebration on September 19, is also scheduled to visit Tuensang village accompanied by the Chief Minister and other officials.
It should be mentioned that Nagaland is home to about five per cent of India�s growing stock of bamboo which is about 4,48,000 hectares. About 46 species of the wonder grass has been identified in the State so far.
