Kamorta | January 09, 2026
The Island Tourism Festival (ITF) 2025 was celebrated with vibrant cultural displays and strong community participation at Indira Park, Nancowry, from January 7 to 8, highlighting the rich heritage, traditional art forms and collective spirit of the Nicobar Islands.
Organised by the Nancowry Administration in collaboration with the Department of Information, Publicity and Tourism and the Department of Art & Culture, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, the festival was held with the support of local Tribal Councils. The two-day event drew enthusiastic participation from residents across the Nancowry group of islands, providing a platform for cultural exchange, youth engagement and inter-village interaction.
The inaugural programme was graced by Mr. Aditya Sangotra, DANICS, Assistant Commissioner, Nancowry, as Chief Guest. He was joined by Mr. Charles Jacob, Chairperson, Tribal Council–Kamorta, Ms. Ayesha Majeed, Chairperson, Tribal Council–Nancowry, along with officers from INS Kardip and ICG Kamorta. The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by a welcome address by Mr. Mohammed Yunus M., Nodal Officer (ITF) and Block Development Officer, Nancowry, who underscored the importance of such events in strengthening community bonds and spreading awareness about government schemes through departmental participation.
A video presentation on the traditional Nicobari art form Kinthwaka, performed by villagers of Munak village under the Kamorta Tribal Council, was screened, offering a glimpse into the living cultural traditions of the Nicobar Islands. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest highlighted developmental achievements in the region and outlined key projects in the pipeline, reaffirming the Administration’s focus on inclusive and sustainable development.
A key highlight of the inaugural function was the handing over of keys of mortuary vans, procured under the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP), to the Chairpersons of the Kamorta and Nancowry Tribal Councils. The initiative fulfilled a long-pending demand of the tribal community and was widely appreciated as a people-centric intervention.
As part of the festival, traditional community games such as pillow fight (men), tug of war and coconut grating were organised to promote mass participation and revive indigenous recreational practices. A mini marathon from the Helipad to Indira Park also witnessed enthusiastic participation from youth and local residents.
The cultural evenings featured a colourful array of performances, including traditional, folk, classical, semi-classical, Bollywood and western dance forms. Highlights included fire and bamboo dances by Team Tapong, folk performances by village groups from Champin and Hitui, presentations by Youth Club Pilpillow, and classical and fusion performances by artistes from Vikas Dance Academy, Sri Vijaya Puram. Group and solo performances by school children further added to the vibrancy of the programme, earning warm appreciation from the audience.
On the second day, competitive events such as the Carol Singing Competition and Nancowry Idol – Season 3 Singing Competition were held, providing a platform for emerging local talent and drawing strong audience engagement.
Stalls set up by departments including Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Health, Fire Service and Rural Development attracted visitors and served as effective awareness platforms on government schemes and essential public services.
The Island Tourism Festival 2025 concluded on a celebratory note, reinforcing a sense of unity, cultural pride and community harmony among the people of Nancowry.
