Gubernatorial style bashes for Meghalaya’s centenarians
By IANSWednesday, October 6, 2010
SHILLONG - Meghalaya residents who attain 100 years of age can now celebrate the event at the Raj Bhavan, thanks to an initiative by Governor R.S Mooshahary.
“I will invite anyone who attains the age of 100 years to celebrate his or her birthday at the Raj Bhavan,” Mooshahary announced Wednesday.
The governor, who inaugurated a two-day exhibition on Meghalaya’s indigenous resources - “Indigenously Yours” - believes that people in the northeastern region live longer because of their eating habits.
“There is something in our food culture that makes people live longer here,” said Mooshahary, a tribal Bodo from Assam.
The richness of indigenous rich cuisine, the governor said, is mainly due to the bio-diversity that is closely intertwined with traditions and cultures of the people.
The governor said: “There are unique crops in the state like the Lakadong turmeric, 540 species of plants, 340 genera of plants and 31 families of flowering plants and herbs which need to be preserved.”
He also urged the civil society to build awareness to adopt scientific mining in the state to ensure that the landscapes with important bio-diversity are not disturbed.
Horticulture Director C.O. Rangad said the exhibition of indigenous resources aims at highlighting the rich bio-diversity that exists in Meghalaya.
