Kohima Night Carnival
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A section of people thronging the night carnival at Kohima. EM Images[/caption]
Atono Tsükrü
Kohima, Dec. 7 (EMN): The Kohima Night Carnival which is considered as the most successful spin-off of the Hornbill Festival that attracts a huge number of visitors both tourists and locals every year is quite deadened this time with less visitors and lower sales reported by the vendors.
The 10-day carnival organised by the Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) is also a part of the Hornbill Festival whereby the streets of Kohima town comes alive every evening withrevellers and roadside vendors of food and wares.
The carnival has become a place for budding entrepreneurs and artisans while the resulting revenue generated boosting the economy is seen as a big achievement. Seasonal part time vendors as well as serious entrepreneurs all used to return home quite satisfied all these years.
Talking to Eastern Mirror, Jabou Sekhose, KCCI president said around 150-160 stalls have been opened along the stretch from Old MLA Y Junction to Razhü Point mostly of local entrepreneurs. He acknowledged that the business is a ‘little cold’ this year.
On being asked the reason as to why there have been fewer visitors, he opined that it could be due to the ‘unpaid salary’ of the government employees and also the shifting of the rock concert to Dimapur.
When enquired about some complaints of charging exorbitant prices at the night carnival as compared with the regular shop rates, Sekhose said KCCI has also been trying its best to control the high prices charged by some vendors.
On receiving some complains from the citizens, he said inspection was conducted last night, however, the prices were found to be the same as that of the regular shops in and around the town and dismissed it as baseless allegations.
Vimenuo, a young entrepreneur who has put up a stall of barbecue and beverages along with her friends for the second consecutive year said, the sale was quite less this time. She said they could hardly make a sale of INR 10000 as compared to last year where they were able to make INR 15000-20,000 each night.
Sekhose said the night carnival is being organised in the spirit of joy and happiness where the citizens of Kohima as well as tourists can enjoy the great carnival atmosphere, the night life and also taste the delicious foods.
