The Second Baukhungri festival has been kicked off here at Harinaguri Baukhungri Hill, in the eve of Rangali Bihuin Kokrajhar with four-days long programme scheduled for creating tourism environment among the society in the region.
Noted poet, former president of Bodo sahitya sabha and Rabindra Nath Tagore awarded Brajendra Kumar Brahma inaugurated the festival in the presence of huge public gathering Friday where hundreds of youth and common public from various parts of the region participated in the Hill trekking competition which was flagged off by Brahma.
Ther festival was organized by Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Tourism department. Over 126 stalls from various districts of Bodoland and Assam including Missing, Dewri, Rabha, Bodo, Garo showcasing indigenous foods was installed in the festival and attracted the visitor and tourist. Besides these, indigenous game like Ghila Gelenai (Ghila game), Bata gelenai, Komlainai and natural cock fighting competition,para gliding were also organized which saw attraction of the festival.
Prafullo Kumar Hazoary, secretary of the Festival Organizing Committee said traditional Bodo custom to climb hill called ‘Baukhunguri on the auspicious day of Sankranti the previous day of 1st Bohag will be celebrated as festival every year in a systematic and organized way. He said that the hill tracking and indigenous games that could attract the people and that one of the greatest festivals in the region with the blissful nature coinciding with the celebration of Bwisagu–Bihu where the participants and visitors from different ethnic autonomous councils of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya and also neighboring Bhutan are participating.
He said that the hill trek competition on the hill top of Baokhungri was organized separately for male and female. He informed that since immemorial the local people in an unorganized manner have been thronging and climbing the Baukhungri hill on the vicinity of the Kokrajhar town as a tradition on the day of Sankranti, the last day of the last month of the Hindu year, Chhaitra. The people spend trekking the hill on the day during which they also view some feature of the Mother Nature having legendry background.
Perched at 1491 feet above sea level, Baukhungri peak is tucked away about 10 km southern part of Kokrajhar town. The hill lies within the Chakrachila wildlife sanctuary, the home to endangered golden langur & other wild animals and other flora & fauna.
He said the Bodos believe that the Baukhungri hill is scared dwelling of Sibrai( Lord Shiva) and number of other deities and so pay a deep reverence to this abode by climbing up the peak. Though it was celebrated by the Bodos in a traditional way in earlier times, in present times, thousands of people, irrespective of caste, creed and religions, thronged and climbed the Baukhungri peak with festivity mood for welcoming the Bwisagu festival, he said.
Noted Bodo film actor Tikendrajit Narzary inaugurated the indigenous game Komlainai competition in the festival said it is very human touch festival in Bodoland. He said it is really an enjoyable moment for peoples of Bodoland and Assam where indigenous food, games and some other entertainment have been presenting on the beginning day with various colorful pogrammes.
The festival would be concluded on April 14 with prize distribution function and cultural demonstration from various communities.
The winners of Hill trek competition of both categories will carry a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh while the 2nd and 3rd position would be given Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 and Rs 5,000 to each from 4th to 10th position would be given as consolation prize.
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