TTT NEWS NETWORK
LATAGURI | 14 NOVEMBER 2026
Travelers looking for authentic cultural immersion in Eastern India have a new date to mark on their calendars. During today’s Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas celebrations at the Dooars Folk and Tribal Museum in Bichabhanga Forest Village, Jalpaiguri Member of Parliament Dr. Jayanta Roy announced that the region will host a fixed-date, seven-day annual festival from November 9 to November 15 starting next year.
Located right next to the Gorumara National Park, the museum served as the backdrop for a celebration centered on Prakriti (Nature) and its deep bond with indigenous communities. Dr. Roy inaugurated the event by planting a mango tree on the grounds, symbolizing sustainable growth and environmental stewardship.
Modeled after the globally renowned Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, the upcoming seven-day extravaganza aims to put the forest villages of East and Northeast India on the global cultural tourism map. For generations, tribal communities living around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries have acted as the primary guardians of these natural wonders through their traditional lifestyles and ecological knowledge. By bringing these traditions into the spotlight, organizers hope to foster local pride while offering travelers meaningful, participatory experiences.
Starting next November, visitors to Lataguri can look forward to a vibrant showcase of indigenous life, featuring authentic tribal cuisine, traditional handicrafts, folk music, dance performances, and ancestral storytelling.
The initiative is driven by PRAKRITI (People’s Rural Anthropological Knowledge Reserves & Indigenous Tourism Institutions) in collaboration with the region’s leading travel and conservation bodies. Today’s gathering brought together key hospitality leaders, including Rajashish Chaterjee, Secretary of the Lataguri Resort Owners’ Association; Tanmoy Goswami, Secretary of the Himalayan Hospitality and Tourism Development Network; and Dr. Pompi Paul, Cultural Coordinator for the Association for Conservation & Tourism (ACT).
Cultural and tourism representatives from the Oraon, Munda, Santhal, Rava, Mech, Tamang, Rai, and Limboo communities also participated in the event. Adding academic and artistic depth to the day, Rajbongshi cultural expert Anindita Ray delivered an engaging presentation on Bhawaiya and Tukkha folk traditions, highlighting how local music and oral history are intricately woven into the natural landscape of the Dooars.
With wildlife tourism in Gorumara already drawing nature lovers from across the country, this new annual festival promises to transform Lataguri into a premier destination for responsible, community-led cultural travel.
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