Darjeeling Melo-Tea Festival in December

DARJEELING, : The third edition of the Darjeeling Melo-Tea Festival is set to be held from December 11, culminating with the 12th edition of the Darjeeling Hill Marathon on December 14.

Darjeeling Superintendent of Police Praween Prakash said, “We are organising this festival in support of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). We will follow the same format as in previous years. The recent natural disaster has affected tourist inflow, and through the Melo-Tea Festival, we aim to revive and boost tourism in the region.”

According to the Darjeeling SP, like in earlier editions, the festival will feature various music competitions with attractive prize money, which in the past had drawn participants from across and beyond Bengal. A Western Rock competition and a Nepali Rock competition for local bands will be held, along with the marathon.

“Last year, we received many impressive entries in the Nepali Rock category, which made judging difficult. Therefore, this year we’ve increased the prize money to encourage more talented musicians to participate and gain exposure,” said Prakash.

Both the Western and Nepali Rock competitions will carry a total prize pool of Rs14 lakh each, with the first prize of Rs 8 lakh, followed by Rs 4 lakh and Rs 2 lakh for the second and third positions respectively.

The festival will also showcase local art, craft, culture, and cuisine through various stalls. “We will also highlight local traditions through fashion shows and cultural programs,” added the SP.

Prakash further mentioned the successful collaboration with Youth for Tourism (YT) last year, under which several new hiking routes were promoted.

“We had started 20 different hiking routes during last year’s Melo Fest, and we’re pleased that they have become popular, with over 2,000 hikes conducted so far, a record for the region. Locals are now exploring additional routes, helping to promote sustainable and village tourism,” he said.

He added that birdwatching would again be part of the festival this year, with information and contact details of local guides made available to visitors.

Speaking about the Darjeeling Hill Marathon, Prakash said, “The marathon has grown into a major event over the years, attracting participants from across the country and abroad. We have already started receiving enquiries.”

The prize money for the marathon will be announced at a later date.