Jatinga (Haflong), Oct 27 (IANS) The first Jatinga International Festival opened here Wednesday with Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik inaugurating the three-day event organised to familiarise people from outside the region with Jatinga village.

Jatinga, in North Cacher Hills district, is known for the mysterious phenomenon of birds committing mass suicide during winters. This peculiar phenomenon has created a lot of curiosity among ornithologists but few have found any plausible explanation so far.

For the next two days, the festival will showcase the rich heritage of the multi-ethnic district. Singer Lucky Ali is slated to entertain visitors Friday night.

Arjun Y. Dhanwatay, a tour operator from Nagpur, who has been invited for the festival, said the area needs better infrastructure to become a tourist spot. ‘There is hardly any accommodation facility here for tourists,’ he said.