All arrangements have been completed to host the mega event - the Island Tourism Festival (ITF) 2005-06 at the popular ITF ground at the VIP road. The 17-day cultural extravaganza will unfold with its inauguration by the Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Somnath Chatterjee in an opening ceremony to be held at the Exhibition ground, VIP at 1840 hrs tomorrow (Dec 30). The Lt. Governor, A & N Islands, Prof. Ram Kapse will preside, while the Member of Parliament, Shri Manoranjan Bhakta will be the guest of honour at the inaugural function. The senior most Judge of the Calcutta High Court and the Executive Chairman of the State Legal Services Authority, A & N Islands, Port Blair, Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.K. Ganguly will also be the guest of honour on the occasion. 

The festival will showcase different developmental activities of the Administration in various fields besides cultural programmes by EZCC and SZCC. Song and Drama division along with local orchestra and cine artists of repute including singers will also participate. The main attractions of the festival – Hasya Kavi Sammelan and Mumbai singers’ nite are proposed on January 5 & 6 and January 11 & 12, 2006 respectively. 

Besides the main venue of the Island Tourism Festival, cultural programmes will also be presented by 300 artistes from SZCC and EZCC & Song and Drama Division in three different venues i.e Dr B R Ambedkar Auditorium, Amphitheatre and Bhatubasti School ground daily at 5.30 pm onwards. Cultural programmes will also be presented at outlying areas viz. Baratang, Rangat, Billyground, Mayabunder, Diglipur, Havelock and Neil Island to enable the residents of that area to have a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of our country. 

Meanwhile, the town has been given a festive look as part of the ITF celebrations. City roads are being carpeted to provide a new look to add to the ambience. The road leading to the exhibition ground has been tastefully illuminated with colour bulbs on both sides of the road in the entire stretch. 

The Island Tourism Festival will be the first major cultural programme being hosted by the Administration after tsunami. The festival will not only minimize the trauma existing among the islanders, but it will also further add towards tourism development in these picturesque archipelagoes.          

                                                                       Source : The Daily Telegrams dated 30-12-2005