The vibrant spirit of India’s North East will come alive in Singapore from Sept 19 to 21, as the North East India Festival makes its debut at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Organised by the High Commission of India and TrendMMS, with support from the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the governments of the eight North Eastern states, the festival will showcase the region’s unique culture, products, and tourism opportunities.
The event also marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Singapore and the India-ASEAN Year of Tourism.
Rooted in India’s Act East Policy, the festival aims to deepen economic and people-to-people ties between North East India and South-east Asia. There were earlier successful editions in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.
The main exhibition, running from Sept 20 to 21 (10am to 10pm), will feature around 60 stalls with products bearing Geographical Indication (GI) tags, showing exactly where they originate, and items from India’s One District One Product initiative.
Visitors can explore award-winning handicrafts, organic produce, Assam tea tasting sessions, and innovative startups from the region. B2B meetings will connect Singaporean companies with exporters and tour operators from India’s North East.
A dedicated tourism pavilion will spotlight iconic festivals such as the Hornbill Festival (Nagaland), Cherry Blossom Festival (Meghalaya), and Tawang Festival (Arunachal Pradesh), alongside adventure routes that remain off the beaten track.
More than 400 participants from India are travelling for the festival, including 150 folk dancers performing traditional showcases like Sattriya, Karbi, Manipuri, Hojagiri, and Naga warrior dances.
Adding to the excitement, top musical acts from the region – such as Zubeen Garg, Borkung Hrangkhal, Meba Ofilia, Six Frets, and Seyie Chuzo – will headline the evenings.
A fashion show will present designs by celebrated North Eastern designers including Bompi Riram, Daniel Siyem, Iba Malai, and Daisy Momin.
