Tura, June 24: Te·brong, the exotic jackfruit in abundance across the Garo Hills region at this time of the year, and popular for its sweet tropical taste with a juicy, slightly chewy texture that reminds one of a blend between pineapple, mango and banana is making waves in the South-West Garo Hills region.
For the first time a Te·brong festival was organized in Ampati, headquarters of South West Garo Hills, on Tuesday.
Held at the Multi Facility Centre and jointly organized by the district administration and the tourism department, the day-long event celebrated the cultural, culinary, and economic significance of the jackfruit, drawing crowds of locals, students, and officials.
Multiple stalls featuring various jackfruit-based and locally processed foods, set up by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and government departments, made booming sales as the food items quickly went off the shelves and into the hands of crowds of consumers.
The highlights of the festival included lively competitions such as indigenous cooking with jackfruit, won by Jeshmina S. Marak, a jackfruit eating contest claimed by Remington Sangma, and the heaviest jackfruit contest, where Arfeush S. Sangma’s 37.89 kg jackfruit took the crown.
A live music performance and an inter-departmental tug-of-war, won by the District Sports Office against the Police Department, added excitement and camaraderie.
Chief guest at the festival- Mahendraganj MLA Sanjay A. Sangma, while inaugurating the event in the morning, highlighted the importance of the fruit for the region, particularly its nutritional and economic value. He also shared personal anecdotes that struck a chord with the audience.
Guest of Honour, Rangsakona MLA Subir Marak praised local enterprises for taking advantage of the fruit’s abundance in the region, converting them into valuable assets. He made special mention of the Muktidata Multipurpose Society Ltd from Tikrikilla, that has brought fame and name to Garo Hills with the production of their highly in demand “Nokma” jackfruit ice cream, emphasizing the MDA government’s support for grassroots entrepreneurship and agri-based startups.
Deputy Commissioner Hema Nayak also spoke at the festival pointing out that “Jackfruit reflects the essence of Garo Hills—its forests, food culture, and abundance. This platform aims to raise awareness of its economic potential and inspire local youth and entrepreneurs.” She also addressed nutrition gaps among schoolchildren, urging the community to incorporate local produce into daily diets.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Dolrich B.G. Momin and Tourist Officer Colin Jeffrey Ch Marak also highlighted the festival’s role in fostering community engagement and boosting tourism.
