After two hugely successful years, the third edition of the North East Festival kicked off in great style in a brand new avatar in the capital. Being held from 16th to 18th October at IGNCA, Janpath, New Delhi, the festival was inaugurated today by Shri Arvind Kejriwal, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi. Deputy CM Delhi, Mr. Manish Sisodia & Mr Kapil Mishra,  Hon'ble Tourism Minister of Delhi were the guest of honours for the inaugural.

The "North East Festival", has become a brand which is synonymous with the unification of the various stakeholders of North East under one dynamic platform.

While inaugurating the 3rd edition of North East Festival, Shri Arvind Kejriwal, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi said, "It is extremely heartening to see such a festival happening in Delhi. I would like to assure the North East people that they are safe in Delhi and we will do everything to ensure their safety here. I wish the North East Festival all the success and promise all support to the event."

Speaking about this year's edition, Shyamkanu Mahanta, Organiser in Chief, North East Festival said, "The North East Festival started today with an overwhelming response from the people of Delhi amid the presence of Shri Arvind Kejriwal and Shri Kapil Mishra. We are really thankful to the people of Delhi, and am sure the coming two days will see an even better turnout."

He added, "This year, tourism is the key focus and the festival would bring forth various facets of the North East.  With the enthusiastic support of Delhi Tourism, we are inviting tour operators across Delhi to be a part of the North East Festival and we expect many foreign tourists as well."

North East Festival is organised by the reputed socio-cultural trust, Trend MMS, in association with IGNCA and North East Today.

The carnival on day one started with some scintillating performances by some of the biggest music bands of the North East, including MIDMEN, Straight Outs and Dreamscaped who had the audience in raptures with their music. The fashion show in the evening comprised of designers Siami Ralte (Mizoram), Ranjima Barooah (Assam), Atu and Irantee (Nagaland and Assam), Arita Kashyap (Assam), and Nabam Aka (Arunachal Pradesh), who showcased some of their best creations.

The evening was dedicated to Lou Majaw, the father of rock music who is completing 50 years of his musical journey this year. Alvina Gonson, Mayukh Hazarika, Joshua & the Note Ninjas, Yesterdrive started the evening with their electrifying music and the day was sumptuously rounded off by a vintage performance by Lou Majaw himself as he set the stage on fire.

Football is a major sport in the North East and has produced many of India's top footballers. As a celebration of the association between the people of the North East and this wonderful sport, the North East Festival Football Cup was held in association with Indian Collegiate Athletic Program (ICAP) for the first time this year at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from October 9 – October 15. The keenly contested tournament saw Sri Venkateshwar College winning the trophy.

The 3rd edition of North East Festival is expected to be attended by more than three lakh people, and will include top North East icons, policymakers of the country, Senior Ministers in Union Cabinet, Chief Ministers of various North Eastern States, top bureaucrats, intellectuals, students, tour operators, among others.

The three day festival will have various forms of North East music, exhibition of tribes, freedom fighters, photography, painting, cartoon, film, handloom & handicraft exhibition, traditional sports of NER. A dedicated food festival will take place for the duration of the event , featuring various delicacies of all the eight states of North East.