Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The fourth Meghalaya Pineapple Festival wrapped up at Dilli Haat in New Delhi. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma traded his suit for a guitar during the closing ceremony. He joined young artists from the Chief Minister's Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme on stage. The crowd cheered.
This program funds over 7,000 artists across the state. It has already sparked more than 38,000 performances. These gigs happen at tourist hotspots to give visitors a better experience and provide steady pay for local talent. The state government foots the bill to grow the creative economy.
Sangma used the platform to pitch the state's development strategy. The festival highlights internationally recognized pineapples alongside the music program. It aims to link farming, tourism, and arts to build sustainable livelihoods. As Sangma told the crowd, the program is designed to "nurture emerging talent and strengthen the state's creative economy."
The event serves as a massive outreach campaign. It puts Meghalaya's unique produce and performers in front of a national audience. The government views this integration as the primary path to future growth.
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