The 3-day long annual Tea and Tourism Festival held in the Nilgiris concluded today with the district collector P. Shankar giving away prizes and certificates to participants. The festival is arranged by the district administration each year to showcase the tea cultivation in the district. This year, the festival began on Friday and ended on Sunday.

On the inauguration day of the festival, the district collector distributed certificates to dancers from the tribes of Kothas and Badagas. Traditional dances including Badaga dance, and folk dances like Kai Silambattam were performed by the artistes.

The collector had inaugurated various stalls set up by the government, showcasing the achievements of the state government in its four years regime. He also inaugurated the photography exhibition set up by the government showcasing the varieties of tea being cultivated in the state.

“The state government had given more than Rs.600 lakhs for the benefit of tea-cultivators in the district. The government had also provided Rs.17 crores as subsidy and helped the growth of technology in the industry,” a press release for the event said.