Nagaland: 9th annual cosfest commences in Northeast India, attracting thousands of cosplay enthusiasts

Biebe Natso, the founder of NAJ, attributed the inspiration for this grand event to the Comic Con held in 2011. The event aims to celebrate various fandoms such as comics, toys, merchandise, anime, TV shows, movies, gaming, and, of course, the beloved art of cosplay, reported Nagaland Tribune.

Over the years, the Cosfest has witnessed a phenomenal growth in popularity, transforming from a humble gathering of 500 people during its first edition to attracting a massive audience of 8,000-10,000 attendees from all corners of India. The response has been nothing short of overwhelming.

The festival has become a platform for aspiring cosplayers to showcase their talent on a global stage. The NAJ holds local preliminaries for the World Comic Summit, and the winners get a chance to compete in the final Indian prelims.

The ultimate victors earn the honor of representing India in Japan at one of the world's most significant cosplay events, where participants from 40-50 countries compete.

Discussing the potential of cosplay as a profession, Biebe Natso expressed that professional cosplayers are indeed fortunate to pursue what they love as a career, making it an appealing and rewarding profession.

The NAJ Cosfest, first celebrated in 2018, has become an eagerly awaited annual affair taking place in the month of July. The festival features two categories – the Adult category and the Chibbi category (for children aged 10 and below).

Winners of the Adult category are set to receive a handsome cash prize of 220,000, along with prestigious gildur pers, while the Chibbi category victor will be awarded a cash prize of 25,000, along with delightful gift hampers.

With the 9th annual Cosfest in full swing, the air is charged with creativity and enthusiasm as participants and visitors immerse themselves in the colorful world of cosplay, celebrating their passion for all things geeky and imaginative.