It is with immense pleasure that we are announcing the long-awaited first Northeast India Heritage Festival (NEIHF), to be held in Columbus, Ohio on September 19th and 20th, 2025. The festival will showcase–in one platform– the history, culture, handloom and handicrafts, food, and musical instruments of Northeast India. Photo exhibitions, panel discussions and presentations on tourism, commerce and the sustainable development of this unique and vibrant region will serve to create new connections and opportunities within Northeast India itself and between the United States.
Northeast India, located at the intersection of the Occident and the Orient, fosters a unique melting pot of cultures and languages, and contains many diverse ethnic groups and traditions. This festival is unique in that it features all the eight states of the region, which are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. In this festival representatives from each of the Northeast states will participate and showcase their unique handloom & handicraft products, performing arts and food, as well as local and national government representatives from India and the United States.
The idea was conceptualized by Dr. Utpola Borah and Dr. Hans Utter under their organization Himalayan Folkways., concept from their ongoing project “Indigenous Percussion Instruments of Northeastern India: Collection, Preservation and Documentation.” This continuing project garnered widespread interest and highlighted the importance of preserving the unique heritage of Northeast India. The region’s rich musical tradition, influenced by historical trade routes and local religious practices, presents a valuable cultural repository that deserves recognition and protection. From this vision, the planning process began to make this project a reality.
CARE – Connect, Assimilate, Research, Empower, will be the central theme of the festival. During the event, there will be discussions on how to promote the beautiful but untapped tourism potential of Northeast India, increase employment opportunities, raise environment awareness and create exchange programs to name a few.
“We want to provide a voice for the people who are not seen” mentions Utpola Borah, Ethnomusicologist, Music educator and an eminent exponent of Hindustani (North Indian) classical music. She is an accomplished concert performer and performs regularly in North America and India.
Artists and artisans whose products such as handlooms & handicrafts, will be widely featured in the event. While the artifacts themselves are uniquely handmade and authentic, many of the artisans reside in the remote areas of Northeast India and their ability to produce and showcase their creations are still constrained by lack of modern-day transportation and electronic communication. This festival will attempt to educate these artisans on how to gain access to modern shipping and transportation while guiding them on how to navigate the intricacies of international trade rules. We hope these will in turn stimulate the growth of such traditional industries and in turn remove barriers to economic development. Our discussions will provide opportunities for artisans to connect and network with key people in the USA and in India.
An attire walk will feature participants in their traditional dress and jewelry. Products made with banana fiber, water hyacinth, bamboo, Muga silk (Antheraea assamensis), Eri, Endi or Errandi silk (Samia ricini), known as non-violence silk found only in Northeast region of India, and other indigenous motifs will take the center stage during the event.
Music representing various themes of Northeast India will also be a focus for the event. “We have curated performances to cater to both adult and young audiences. Youth musicians will play regional music of Northeast India on western musical instruments. The idea is to evoke interest in music from North East India within the younger age group so it is carried forward from generation to generation,” says Borah.
A noteworthy mention is a performance by the students of Sacred Music scheduled to sing a ‘Borgeet’ – which belongs to the genre of devotional songs composed by Srimanta Sankardeva and Bhaktigeet composed by Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha. These students are mostly second-generation students of the Indian diaspora who have eagerly stepped up for the performance.
Bringing together Jazz musicians to play regional music reiterates the fact that music transcends boundaries. The adult music band composed of professional Jazz musicians from Ohio will play regional tunes from Northeastern states. The team will be led by Dr. Hans Utter, who is an ethnomusicologist, music producer, composer, and author. Apart from being one of the most seasoned sitarists in present times, he is also an accomplished guitarist and oud player, transcending genres from Western and Indian classical music to jazz to the captivating modal music of Central Asia and the Middle East.
A key aspect of the event will be the display of photos from across the region. Stunning views of Northeast India’s landscape along with the vibrant culture of the indigenous communities will adorn the walls of the event halls.
To commemorate the event, a monograph, titled, ‘Destination India’s North East’ will be introduced. The monograph has four authors Dr. Palmi Borthakur, Kishore Seram, Dr. Utpola Borah & Dr. Hans Utter. The monograph will be distributed among the event attendees.
An event is incomplete without a tour of gastronomic delights. The event will have special treats from the Northeast states.
Keeping in mind this special year of celebrating 200 years of founding of the Assam tea industry, they are organizing a curated Tea event to allow event goers sample exquisite tea brought directly from Assam, India. The festival team is honored to present this year’s tea from “Banamalie Tea company”. They are growers of one of India’s finest teas grown in Sibsagar, Assam, India the heartland of India’s tea plantations.
Northeast states, while geographically similar, have unique diverse expressions of culture and arts. Recognizing the need to showcase this diversity of culture in a land of similarities to North American audiences, organizations such as the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Ohio Arts Council, the Ohio State University and few local businesses have stepped forward to support this festival financially. Proceeds from this festival will support the Ohio Food Drive. The Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Ohio Arts Council helps preserve the state’s cultural heritage and encourages the development of the arts in communities around the state through funding to artists and arts organizations as such it is quite commendable that they have stepped forward to support the cause of artists from Northeast India.
Manipur – “Jewel of India” – a state in Northeast India named after the eponymous kingdom mentioned in the epic Mahabharata is known for its beautiful culture and natural beauty. Kishore Seram, Publisher and Editor of Discover India’s Northeast—the only magazine dedicated exclusively to India’s eight Northeastern states—will curate a powerful photographic exhibition capturing the region’s rich diversity and vibrant spirit. Each image tells a unique story, offering a window into the people, culture, and landscapes that define the Northeast. A recipient of a lifetime achievement award for his tireless efforts in promoting the region, Mr. Seram has also played a pivotal role in advancing tourism. This exhibition aims to inspire global audiences and spark renewed interest in exploring this extraordinary part of India.
Dr. Palmi Borthakur, Assistant Professor, Royal Global University, Guwahati, has been one of the key personnel helping to collaborate and connect with artisans and weavers across the Northeastern states. Dr. Borthakur has been the backbone for the handloom and handicraft program planned for the event. Connecting artisans residing in the remote areas of Northeast India was an arduous task which was handled beautifully. The festival will showcase costume and jewelry from the Deb Barman/Tripuri community of Tripura, begs from Sherdukpen community of Arunachal Pradesh, Khasi & Jaintia attires, artifacts from Nagaland, Sikkim and Terracotta dolls from Asharikandi Terracotta village, Gouripur, Assam.
The next generation of the Indian diaspora played a role in the event planning and participation. The event flyer designed by Sristri Gohain and banner by Aleesha Bora has been completed beautifully with attention to details. On the music front, Rishav Barua is leading to bring together and perform with the Ohio State University Youth band. The music selected will highlight tunes from Northeast India combined with a touch of the traditional Jazz music.
Culture and traditions are passed down from generation to generation, the event is a humble effort to give the local community a chance to experience the beautiful heritage of Northeast India in the geographical center of the United States, Columbus, Ohio. We hope this heritage festival and tradition to showcase Northeast India arts and culture to the people of North America grows in years to come.
Gina Barua
Wednesday, February 11, 2026