Darjeeling, December 12 (Siliguri Chronicle) – Darjeeling’s MELOtea Fest opened on Thursday evening with music, the aroma of fresh brews, and the unmistakable energy of the hills, turning the town into a vibrant hub of culture and tea.
Organised by the Darjeeling police with support from the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the festival features a music competition, cultural performances, and the popular hill marathon.
The event will conclude with the marathon on Sunday.
“The event is a community policing initiative with support from the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration to promote heritage, music, tea, entrepreneurship, tourism and other avenues in remote areas,” said Praween Prakash, the superintendent of police, Darjeeling.
MELOtea, a blend of melody and tea, has introduced two new features to its lineup this year.
The festival has allotted free spaces to emerging start-ups from the region, giving young entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their ideas. Nearly 40 new ventures have set up stalls at the venue. “This is such a huge push for new start-ups,” said Eleena Sharma Pradhan of Kalimpong, who is launching specially curated festival merchandise.
The second addition is a competition for upcoming content creators.
This year, the MELOtea Fest has also scheduled a series of D-Series thematic events — with “D” standing for Darjeeling.
D-Rock: An open rock music competition in both English and Nepali, will offer prize money totaling an impressive ₹28 lakh. This year’s star performers include renowned Nepali singer Purna Rai, the internationally acclaimed Darjeeling band Mantra, and another popular homegrown band, Chakra.
“More than 100 bands from across India have registered for the event,” said Prakash.
D-Run: The Darjeeling marathon that has attracted more than 4,000 participants, including international athletes, is scheduled for December 14.
“This year, the event gains special significance as it is being held in one of the cleanest air zones in India, with recent AQI data placing Darjeeling among the top spots,” said Prakash. The total prize award for the run is ₹10 lakh.
D-Hike: An old hiking route the Tenzing Norgay trail in the Rangaroong area has been added to the itinerary this year. In earlier editions, the introduction of 16 hiking routes helped boost the rural economy.
D-Birdwatch: The event aims not only to showcase Darjeeling’s rich birdlife but also to create sustainable livelihood opportunities, the SP said.
D-MTB: A mountain biking competition has been introduced this year to draw adventure enthusiasts from across India and neighbouring countries, strengthening Darjeeling’s profile as an adventure sports destination.
“The total prize pool is ₹ 2 lakh for this event,” said Prakash.
On Thursday evening, Chowrasta drew a packed crowd for Purna Rai’s performance.
