Tea Board India, Zonal Office, Guwahati commemorated International Tea Day 2026 with a series of programmes organized across the North Eastern region, highlighting the importance of sustainability, community welfare, and youth engagement in the tea sector.

International Tea Day, observed annually on 21^st May, is a globally recognized occasion celebrating the cultural, economic, and social significance of tea. The United Nations General Assembly designated the day in 2019 following a proposal by the Government of India submitted in October 2015 at the Intergovernmental Group on Tea of the Food and Agriculture Organization. The first global observance took place in 2020.

Marking the seventh year of the global observance, this year’s celebrations were held under the theme “Sustaining Tea, Supporting Communities,” reflecting the tea sector’s vital role in promoting inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods.

As part of a focused outreach strategy, Tea Board India emphasized youth participation this year by organizing programmes primarily in universities and colleges across the North East. In line with this a programme was held at the College of Agriculture in Agartala which was graced by the Hon’ble Governor of Tripura, Shri Indra Sena Reddy Nallu. Addressing the gathering, the Governor highlighted the richness and diversity of Indian teas and stressed the importance of adopting Good Agricultural Practices for the sustainability of the tea ecosystem. He underlined that the welfare of tea workers remains non-negotiable and called for meaningful promotion and branding of Tripura teas through increased outreach activities. The event was attended by Shri Samir Ranjan Ghosh, Chairman of Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC), Smt Arunita Phukan Yadav, IRS, Executive Director of Tea Board India, Shri Rajesh Das, Managing Director of TTDC, along with dignitaries, stakeholders, workers, small tea growers, and students.

At Royal Global University in Guwahati, several student-centric competitions were organized, drawing enthusiastic participation from students. Winners were awarded cash prizes, adding vibrancy to the celebrations. Similarly, North Eastern Hill University witnessed active participation from students in various competitions, reflecting the success of the youth-focused initiative.

In Jorhat, the day began with a cycle rally flagged off by Deputy Commissioner Shri Jay Sivani, IAS, symbolizing community participation and awareness. This was followed by competitions at Assam Agricultural University. One of the highlights of the programme was the felicitation of Padmashree Jadav Payeng and other pioneers associated with the small tea growers’ movement. The valedictory session was attended by Prof. Dipjyoti Rajkhowa, Vice Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University.

In addition to these programmes, similar events were organized across major tea-growing regions including Tezpur, Itanagar, Udalguri, Golaghat, Sivasagar, Sonari, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia. The programmes witnessed participation from small tea growers, garden workers, tea estates, and local communities, reinforcing the inclusive spirit of the celebrations.

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