The Ranikor Festival is one of the beach festivals of Meghalaya that is organised on the picturesque Ranikor Beach. Nestled in the West Khasi Hills, the Ranikor Beach lies in close proximity to the Indo- Bangladesh border. The very first Ranikor Festival was organized more than a decade back on 23rd and 24th February of 2007 by the Mawkyrwat Sub Divisional Officers Welfare Association (MSDOWA).
Overview of Ranikor Festival
Initially, the Ranikor Festival was started as a low key affair but over the years it has garnered the attention of the state"s people and around. Tourists from across the border visit during this festival and participate in the activities. The Ranikor Festival partly facilitates the tourism in Meghalaya.
The 2018 Ranikor Festival was organized by the South West Khasi Hills District Officers Welfare Association and the venue of the festival was in Ranikor Pamdaba. The two days festivities display the rich cultural diversity of the area by the various tribes of Meghalaya through music and dance. Adventurous sports like beach soccer, volleyball, boat rides, trekking, archery competition, kite flying and swimming are few of the games that attracts tourists from all around. The festival is incomplete without the ethnic cuisine or the performance of live bands on the beach side.
The Ranikor Festival is also an angler"s paradise because of the fishing opportunities and to catch fishes like the golden and chocolate mahseers. Apart from anglers, the beach also draws birdwatchers and they flock to the area to catch a glimpse of different species of s="clsCrossLink" title="Indian Birds">birds brahminy kites like the, kingfishers, lapwings and sunbirds, etc.
The Ranikor Festival is one of the popular festivals of the state that attracts visitors from across the border and in turn facilitates tourism in Meghalaya. Being held at the beach, the Ranikor Festival is an ideal gateway from the summer heat of the plains and the chilly weather of Shillong, which is about 140 km away from the beach.
