President Droupadi Murmu will arrive in West Bengal on Friday afternoon for a two-day visit to the northern part of the state, marking her first official trip to the region since assuming the office of the President of India.
Authorities have placed almost the entire North Bengal region under heightened security to ensure the smooth conduct of her engagements.
According to the tentative schedule, President Murmu will land at Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri in Darjeeling district before travelling to the Governor’s residence in Darjeeling, now known as Lok Bhavan.
During her visit, she will inaugurate the Darjeeling Hill Festival, celebrating the art, culture and heritage of the hill regions and North Bengal while promoting cultural exchange.
A key highlight will be the ‘Roots and Rhythm’ exhibition featuring artefacts from the Indian Museum.
Lok Bhavan is organising the event in collaboration with cultural institutions to highlight the region’s historical and cultural significance.
Before stepping down as Governor, CV Ananda Bose shared programme details on Lok Bhavan’s official social media handle, saying Darjeeling is ready to host an event celebrating its rich history and culture.
President Murmu will stay overnight at Lok Bhavan before travelling to Gossaipur in Darjeeling district on Saturday to attend the 9th International Santal Conference organised by the International Santal Council.
Authorities shifted the event from Bidhannagar to Gossaipur for security reasons, though the President will virtually inaugurate the Bidhannagar programme and join a tree plantation event online.
The council organises the conference annually to discuss the preservation of Santal culture, language and community development.
Experts and representatives from India and abroad will participate this year to explore ways to strengthen the social and economic progress of Santal communities. The previous conference took place in Assam.
Also Read: IAF Confirms Death Of Two Pilots In Su-30MKI Crash
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
