Jyotiraditya M. Scindia chairs the curtain raiser event for the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav

Jyotiraditya Scindia chaired a press meet for the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav today. He highlighted that the DoNER Ministry will host the first-ever Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized the importance of the Northeast in India’s future development, aligning with Prime Minister’s vision.  “It is the Prime Minister's vision that the Northeast should serve as the engine of India's growth. The eight avatars of Lakshmi—Prosperity, Opulence, Purity, Wealth, Knowledge, Duty, Agriculture, and Animal Husbandry—symbolize the essence of the Northeast”, he stated in his address.

Minister of State for Education & DoNER, Dr.Sukanta Majumdar, Secretary, Shri Chanchal Kumar, Secretary, MDoNER, and other senior officials of the Ministry were present at the event.

Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, celebration of the Northeast India's cultural wealth, a three-day cultural festival, will take place at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from December 6^th to 8^th , 2024. The event is being organised by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region managed through its CPSE, North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDC).

‘Purvi’, the mascot of the Mahotsav was introduced during the curtain raiser event. Purvi is a young girl representing  all eight states of Northeast India. The mascot is envisioned to continue symbolizing the North East region, going forward, beyond the duration of the event.

Brig. Rajiv Kumar Singh (Retd.), MD, NEHHDC briefed the audience about the Mahotsav. He informed that the first edition of Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav has been designed to highlight the vast cultural tapestry of Northeast India, bringing together an array of traditional arts, crafts, and cultural practices in one dynamic showcase. The festival's goal is to promote interaction and economic opportunities in areas such as traditional handicrafts, handlooms, agricultural products, and tourism, thereby acting as an impetus for the region's economic advancement and progress.