The 11-day Cosmos-cum-Lekie Cai Festival begins at Peletkie village in Peren, showcasing local salt and culture.
DIMAPUR — The second edition of the 11-day Cosmos (Nraipa)-cum-Lekie Cai Festival commenced at Peletkie village in Peren district on October 10.
Organised by the Lekie Mtei Nko (LMN), which serves as the apex body of the three sister villages of Peletkie, Deukwaram, and Lekieram, the cultural and economic showcase is scheduled to run until October 20.
The inaugural programme was attended by Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Peren Hiazu Meru as the special guest.
According to a press release, speaking at the inaugural, DC Meru lauded the organising committee for its presentation of indigenous heritage, specifically highlighting the live demonstration of local traditional salt preparation. This display brought the processing technique directly to visitors who might otherwise be unable to trek to the remote extraction sites located outside the village limits.
He urged the younger generation to protect and continue practising the traditions passed down by their elders, noting that the village has gained widespread popularity since last year by leveraging social media platforms to advertise its unique cosmos plantations. Meru commended the villagers for utilising digital outreach to effectively boost the local micro-economy.
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Highlighting Lekie Cai as a highly prized product used extensively within Peren district and neighbouring regions, Meru advised the community to draft structured plans to modernise and scale up the salt-making process. He assured the village of administrative support and encouraged them to pursue a geo-tag for their local product to optimise its market potential.
Turning his focus toward regional employment, the special guest urged the youth to avoid laziness, embrace entrepreneurship, and value hard work and the dignity of labour, noting that state government sector roles have reached a point of saturation.
The festival grounds are equipped to host visitors throughout the 11-day run, offering an array of local food stalls, tea stalls, organic vegetable markets, and dedicated campsites for overnight travellers.
Commuters planning to visit the festival from Dimapur can expect a travel time of two and a half hours when driving from 7th Mile via the Pimla-Jalukie road. For visitors travelling from Kohima, the journey takes between two and a half and three hours when navigating via the Khonoma-Heunambe village route along the Hausum Khel Resort-Benreu road.