The main guest of the festival river! The colorful event around him is incredible. But September 25 to 27 is going to be the same on the banks of the Rangit River near Jorethang town in Sikkim. The first innovative festival was named 'Chirbirre River Fest'. The festival, organized jointly by the Sikkim State Government and the Sikkim Anglers Association, will have an environmental theme along with entertainment. The most interesting item is the 'Catch, Release' competition called 'Chirbirre Mahshi Challenge'.
Why suddenly organize such a festival? Leader of Sikkim Anglers Association Udayachandra Rai said that the initiative was taken on the occasion of 25 years anniversary of the organization. We go to places like Arunachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand to enjoy rivers and nature. During the discussions on the organization's silver jubilee year, the question arose—what are we leaving for the next generation? What are you saving? That question ultimately prompted the development of a sustainable fishing, angling and eco-friendly tourism center along the banks of the Rangit River. Udayachandra said, “If the river-centric economic program is sustainable and the local people benefit from it, they will come forward to protect the river.”
The organization presented their ideas to Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Gole). The Chief Minister welcomed the idea. Anglers are starting to work jointly with the Sikkim government to implement the plan. It is known that the focus of the festival will be 'Chirbir Mahshi Challenge'. It is a 'catch and release' i.e. catch and release competition. Mahshi is basically a mountain river fish. Every fish caught here will be returned to the river.
Officials of the Sikkim Anglers Association said the big plan to develop fishing and eco-friendly tourism centers could take three to five years to implement. It is necessary to develop the area as a fishing destination with various facilities keeping the idea of environmental protection in mind. The Sikkim Government has agreed to hand over the 'Chirvire Tar' area to the Sikkim Anglers Association and will assist in building the infrastructure. Udayachandra said, “We realized that if we want to save a river, we need to involve people who are not fishermen. We have planned to keep the river as the main guest of the festival.”
The festival will include riverside camping, pottery, manga art, photography, bird watching, mushroom foraging expeditions i.e. mushroom walks, poetry readings, cooking and baking sessions, tai-chi and qi-gong i.e. traditional Chinese exercises for mind and body, storytelling, music performances and bonfires. Besides, there will also be a river cleaning program called 'The River Peak' in Chirbirey area. The organizers claim that at least five hundred tourists will be able to spend the night at the riverside camp during the three-day festival. Tourists can bring their own tents if they want. The organizers of the festival held discussions with the residents of Singalila area of Rangit River, Darjeeling district. Besides, campaigns were conducted in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Also interacted with environmentalists and fish hunters of Siliguri.