Agartala, December 5, 2025: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), successfully organised a three-day Station Mahotsav as part of the Ghum Festival at the historic Kurseong Railway Station, showcasing the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the hill region.

The event highlighted the vibrant traditions of the local community through music, poetry, art and enthusiastic public participation, while reinforcing NFR’s commitment to heritage awareness and cultural connectivity along the DHR route.

In a pioneering cultural initiative, DHR collaborated with the nationally recognised creative collective Poets of Community to introduce the open mic culture in Kurseong and adjoining hill areas. The initiative offered a platform for local talent and helped connect the hill communities with contemporary artistic movements across the country.

The Mahotsav began on December 2, 2025, with an Open Mic session for local artists, where youths from Kurseong and nearby areas presented poetry, music, storytelling and stand-up performances. This was followed by an evening curated showcase featuring invited performers from across India and abroad, adding a global flavour to the celebrations.

Schoolchildren also took part in various competitions such as essay writing, painting and poetry, reflecting the creative spirit of the younger generation. The valedictory day witnessed a high-energy music festival by local musicians and bands, followed by the felicitation of competition winners.

The successful organisation of the Kurseong Station Mahotsav marks a significant step in NFR’s ongoing efforts to blend heritage conservation with contemporary cultural expression, positioning the iconic DHR as a dynamic cultural hub for hill communities.

CPRO of NFR, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, shared this information in a press communiqué today.