Ziro: A review meeting to deliberate on the preparations for the forthcoming Ziro Festival of Music (ZFM) was held at the district secretariat here on Friday.
One of India’s premier outdoor music festivals, which has gained a reputation among music lovers, is set to begin its 10th edition on September 28.
Addressing the meeting, Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner and chairman of ZFM, Bamin Nime, urged all stakeholders to collaborate in making this year’s ZFM a resounding success, surpassing previous editions.
He highlighted traffic management, security arrangements, and waste management as the festival’s core concerns and announced the formation of a “core committee” to oversee both minute and overall preparations for the event.
To bolster security measures during the festival, SP Keni Bagra revealed plans to deploy three additional units of armed police. Furthermore, police beat houses would be strategically set up at the festival grounds in Biiri and Nago Putu. Mobile squads would also be deployed to maintain a vigilant presence at camp sites and the surrounding festival areas.
Acknowledging the significance of camp sites in accommodating last-minute festival-goers, district tourism officer, Dikchu Raji, assured seamless on-the-spot campsite registrations without causing any inconvenience or harassment to festival visitors.
Tani Supun Dukung general secretary, Taku Chatung, expressed concern about the comparatively lower funding for ZFM in comparison to other prominent state festivals such as the Tawang Festival and the Dambuk Orange Festival. He stressed the significance of ZFM as a representative of Ziro to the outside world and called for the festival to continue promoting the spirit and slogan of “Ziro-Drug-Zero.”
ZFM director, Bobby Hano, introduced an exciting addition to the 10th edition – the “Takerv Stage” at Kasa Resort, where stage performances will be held on September 29 and 30.
The lineup includes international stars like Grammy award winner and Padma Bhushan awardee Pandit Vishnu Mohan Bhatt, who will be drawing fans from as far as Sweden. Bollywood sensations Mohit Chauhan and Farhan Akhtar are also set to dazzle the audience, alongside local artists and bands who will receive equal opportunities to perform.
The final artist lineup will be unveiled in the coming days.
Bobby also unveiled an innovative initiative for this year’s ZFM – an “Audit Report on Waste Management” to be conducted by a Bangalore-based company after the festival concludes. Additionally, a dedicated team of 100 volunteers from St Claret College will contribute to effective waste management throughout the festival.
The meeting saw active participation from various organizations, including the Apatani Youth Association, Apatani Student Union, Apatani Women Association Ziro, and Apatani Tour Operators Union, along with tour guides, who collectively shared valuable insights and perspectives.
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