The 15-day Darjeeling Tea and Tourism Festival will start on December 20.
“We are in touch with a number of Bollywood personalities, from those who hogged the limelight in the 70s to contemporary artists. Although we are not announcing the names immediately, we can promise you that celebrities will be in town for the event,” said Uday Mani Pradhan, the general secretary of the festival committee.
The names that are being talked about include Sharmila Tagore, Zeenat Aman, Helen and Rakhee Gulzar. Mahima Chowdhury, who studied in the hills, and singer Hariharan are also believed to have been approached by the organisers.
The singer is likely to perform for around 45 minutes when the curtain falls on the festivity on January 5.
Sources said at least four celebrities were expected to grace the festival.
“The organisers will announce the names once they tied up with the actors,” said a source.
The festival, however, will not just be about celebrities.
“It will revive memories of Darjeeling down the ages. Darjeeling’s stars will be recognised and its potential will be showcased at the event,” said Raju Pradhan, the working president of the committee.
A carnival parade, montages on movies shot in Darjeeling, eastern and western music shows, archery competition, paragliding, canoeing, kayaking, skating, book fairs, exhibition on Gorkha regiment and many more have been lined up for the festival.
“The programmes will be held in all four towns in the hills — Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik. This is as part of our bid to take the festival across the hills,” said Darjeeling district magistrate Saumitra Mohan.
The festival committee has plans to felicitate footballers Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri and actor Danny Denzongpa among others on the penultimate day of the event. All the major events that will fall during the festival will also be celebrated on a grand scale.
“There will be carol singing in the run up to Christmas and a grand New Year’s Eve celebration in Darjeeling,” said Pradhan.
The telegraph
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