NEZCC’s 'Octave Festival' to be held in Vadodara
Vadodara, February 8 (PTI): The annual 'Octave Festival', organized by the North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur (NEZCC), would be held in Vadodara from February 10-14, a senior official said today. "'Octave - The Festival of the North-East', would be organized in Vadodara from February 10-14, in which at least 280 artistes from the eight states of North-East India would participate," Vadodara district Collector Avantika Singh told reporters. It is for the first time that the event is being organized in Vadodara, which is the cultural capital of Gujarat, she said, adding it would be held at Sir Sayajirao Nagar Gruh in Akota area of the city. Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya would attend the festival on February 11, she said. "Rock band and other musical performances, exhibitions, theater shows, seminars, traditional dances, vegetarian food stalls, etc would mark the five-day event," Director of West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur, M Furqan Khan said. "The region comprises eight states, namely Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur and Sikkim. Hence, the name 'Octave'," Singh said. "The festival was introduced by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India to provide a platform to the artistes and artisans of the North-East region to project their rich cultural heritage," she said. The festival is being held since 2006.
Nagas in Chandel bid goodbye to Livingstone
Chandel, February 8 (MExN): Thousands of Nagas in Chandel, today bade farewell to the Naga freedom fighter Colonel Rtd Livingstone Anal, aged 42, Second in Command of AC, BN, Naga Army of NSCN (IM) who breathed his last at Delhi after a sudden illness on February 5. His mortal remain which was flown from Delhi to his native home town Chandel on February 7 was welcomed by thousands of citizens including various Naga civil societies under the aegis of Chandel Naga People’s Organisation and paid homage to the departed soul. The final funeral service of Late Livingstone held today at Maha Union Govt higher secondary school ground, Japhou where thousands of people - his friends, relatives, school mates, college mates, his colleagues, church leaders, chiefs, representatives and leaders of various Naga civil societies, ranks and files of Naga army paid their last respect. It also included Gun salutes by representatives of nine Naga tribes of Chandel district. Earlier, he was given was a given Guard of Honour by rank and file of the Naga armies at the Battalion head quarter of AC , BN, Naga Army, located at Phunchung village under Chandel P/S. Family sources said Colonel Rt Livingstone Anal was born in February 29, 1973 and has 24 years of services in the Naga Army after joining in 1992. He is survived by wife, three children,two brothers and three sisters.
Three coaches of Awadh-Assam Express jump rail in Bihar
Patna, February 8 (IANS): At least three coaches of the Awadh-Assam Express train were derailed in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district on Monday, disrupting rail traffic on the busy Hajipur-Muzaffarpur rail route, officials said. No injuries were reported immediately. The accident occurred near Mirapur railway station and several metres of track were damaged, an official of the East-Central Railway said. Many trains have been diverted after the derailment.
