4th Kalej Valley Heritage Festival begins

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, May 12: The 4th Kalej Valley Heritage Festival, organized by the Hee Bermiok Tourism Development and Heritage Conservation Society kicked off in Chhayataal at Hee Gaon, West Sikkim on May 10.
The festival, where customs and traditions of different communities are showcased was inaugurated by Zilla Adhyaksha, Chandra Maya Subba.
The main attractions of this year were mountain biking rally, handloom and handicraft exhibition cum sale, marathon and a stall set up by the students of Hee Yangthang Senior Secondary School. Visitors had the opportunity to sample ginger juice and other innovative products made by 13 students of class XII.
Vocational training in horticulture was introduced in Hee Yangthang School in 2005 and production started in 2007.
While talking to SIKKIM EXPRESS, members of the society informed that the annual festival was an effort to provide a platform for exchange and promotion of culture and tradition of different communities and to foster a sense of involvement and participation among the locals along with the objective to preserve, conserve and strengthen heritage.
The festival will conclude on May 13.