New Delhi | The vibrant culture, music, cuisine and creative talent of the Northeast will take centre stage in the national capital as the ninth edition of the North East Students’ Festival (NESt Fest) is set to be held on September 4 and 5.

Organised by NGO My Home India, the two-day festival will be hosted at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium under the theme “The Sound of India’s Yuva Shakti”. The event is open to all and will bring together students, young artists, performers and cultural groups from across the Northeast.

The festival will open on September 4 with an inaugural ceremony featuring a cultural parade showcasing the traditions of the eight northeastern states. The opening day will also include the inauguration of a government pavilion, folk music and dance performances, besides an exhibition showcasing Janajatiya handicrafts and regional cuisine.

“My Home India was built on one idea – that the distance between Delhi and the Northeast should never be a distance of understanding. Twenty-one years on, this festival is where that idea comes alive every year. When leadership from different regions shares the same stage for our students, that is the India we set out to build,” said Sunil Deodhar, founder of My Home India and senior BJP leader.

The second day will feature a “Vande Mataram”-themed inter-college cultural competition, a regional attire fashion show, a youth pledge ceremony and the valedictory session.

A host of artists from the Northeast are scheduled to perform during the festival. They include Sourabhee Debbarma, Dikshu Sarma, Danube Kangjam, Lunia Tadu, Aj Maisnam, Moko Koza, Chorun Mugli, Siampuii Ralte and Lily Sawian.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Mizoram Governor V K Singh are scheduled to participate in the second-day programme. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Sambhaji Shinde are also among the invited guests.

The festival will additionally set up an Assam flood relief help desk to assist people affected by the recent floods in the state and facilitate coordination of relief and support initiatives.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and Odisha Governor K Hari Babu are among those expected to attend the inaugural ceremony.

With its focus on youth, culture and regional identity, NESt Fest has emerged as a platform to showcase the Northeast’s artistic and cultural diversity while strengthening its engagement with audiences in the national capital.