Press Release
Press Release from Fisheries Department
Information & Public Relations Department
The Chirbirey River Fest 2026 was formally launched on 14 August 2026 at Suburb, Sochakgang, Gangtok, bringing together representatives of the Government, angling community, tourism sector, media, content creators and other stakeholders.
Organised by the Sikkim Anglers Association (SAA) in collaboration with the Fisheries Department, Government of Sikkim, the festival will be held from 25 to 27 September 2026. The launch marks the opening of public registration and the unveiling of the official festival website. The event also commemorates 25 years of the Sikkim Anglers Association’s commitment to river conservation.
Shri Am Prasad Sharma, Advisor, Fisheries Department, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Secretaries of the Home, Tourism, IPR and Fisheries Departments, along with senior officers of the Fisheries Department, were present. Members of the Sikkim Anglers Association, vloggers and social media influencers, representatives of the press and media, and other stakeholders also attended the programme.
Envisioned as more than an angling event, the Chirbirey River Fest seeks to celebrate Sikkim’s rivers, natural heritage, culture, adventure, tourism and community participation. The festival will feature angling-related learning and experiences alongside activities such as pottery, painting, local cuisine and cooking, yoga, camping, music and cultural programmes. Nature- and adventure-based activities, including rafting, mountain biking and birdwatching, are also being explored in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
The launch was deliberately informal, providing participants from different sectors an opportunity to interact, exchange ideas and share their enthusiasm for the festival. The programme concluded with dinner and live music, reflecting the informal and community-oriented spirit of the event.
The festival aims to promote greater awareness of the importance of protecting Sikkim’s rivers and aquatic ecosystems while demonstrating how conservation can be integrated with responsible recreation, tourism and local livelihoods. It is envisaged as a platform that brings together conservation, responsible angling, eco-tourism, culture, adventure and community participation.
The Fisheries Department and the Sikkim Anglers Association expressed the hope that the Chirbirey River Fest will develop into a distinctive annual platform showcasing Sikkim’s rivers as living ecosystems that connect nature, people, culture and tourism.
The launch concluded on a positive note, setting the stage for the main festival in September under the guiding spirit of “Flow · Connect · Conserve.”
Organised by the Sikkim Anglers Association (SAA) in collaboration with the Fisheries Department, Government of Sikkim, the festival will be held from 25 to 27 September 2026. The launch marks the opening of public registration and the unveiling of the official festival website. The event also commemorates 25 years of the Sikkim Anglers Association’s commitment to river conservation.
Shri Am Prasad Sharma, Advisor, Fisheries Department, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Secretaries of the Home, Tourism, IPR and Fisheries Departments, along with senior officers of the Fisheries Department, were present. Members of the Sikkim Anglers Association, vloggers and social media influencers, representatives of the press and media, and other stakeholders also attended the programme.
Envisioned as more than an angling event, the Chirbirey River Fest seeks to celebrate Sikkim’s rivers, natural heritage, culture, adventure, tourism and community participation. The festival will feature angling-related learning and experiences alongside activities such as pottery, painting, local cuisine and cooking, yoga, camping, music and cultural programmes. Nature- and adventure-based activities, including rafting, mountain biking and birdwatching, are also being explored in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
The launch was deliberately informal, providing participants from different sectors an opportunity to interact, exchange ideas and share their enthusiasm for the festival. The programme concluded with dinner and live music, reflecting the informal and community-oriented spirit of the event.
The festival aims to promote greater awareness of the importance of protecting Sikkim’s rivers and aquatic ecosystems while demonstrating how conservation can be integrated with responsible recreation, tourism and local livelihoods. It is envisaged as a platform that brings together conservation, responsible angling, eco-tourism, culture, adventure and community participation.
The Fisheries Department and the Sikkim Anglers Association expressed the hope that the Chirbirey River Fest will develop into a distinctive annual platform showcasing Sikkim’s rivers as living ecosystems that connect nature, people, culture and tourism.
The launch concluded on a positive note, setting the stage for the main festival in September under the guiding spirit of “Flow · Connect · Conserve.”
