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The Sunday Show that was

By Bg Gogoi |

It was a swashbuckling show of rainbow culture that came alive to mesmerize the denizens of Delhi. More than 5,000 people who thronged at the lawns of India Gate on the chilly Sunday evening in the national capital were treated to a never before showcasing of the diverse cultural capital of North East. This was how the Assam Association, Delhi celebrated its diamond jubilee with a grand show of music and dances choreographed and presented with clockwork precision. Then the models with ethnic wear sashayed the stage, a treat words fail to describe and will have to be appreciated with own eyes.

Organized by the Assam Association, Delhi with the help of North East Television and Khatta Mitha brand of products, the brief but grand event was attended among others by Union Minister for DONER Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Justice Dr M K Sharma, and Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, Mr. Tapir Gao, all MPs from the north eastern region.

Inauguration of Northeast Cultural Show
DoNER Minister Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar (middle) inaugurated the event.
General Secretary Dr Hareswar Deka towards left and President
Gr Capt. A. C Baruah on the right

Talking to Assam Times, the General Secretary of the association Dr Hareswar Deka said that the event was attended by over 5000 people of Delhi and the national capital region. The fashion show had 22 models to showcase the rich dresses from the seven sister states and Sikkim. What made every body spellbound was a model who was wearing a dress dating back to the Ahoms period of 1857. Other programmes includes Bihu from Assam, and bamboo dance (cherao) from Mizoram, Ojapali and Sattriya from Assam, Abutani from Arunachal, Bagobomba, Naga war dances, Martial art from Manipur.

Bihu was part of the event
Bihu was part of the event

The association has not forgotten the scope of Assam during its formative years, when many other states of the North Eastern Region were part of Assam. Association has organized the festival of North Eastern states' dance and music yesterday. A prestigious location like India gate Lawns has added flavour to the festival of the sister states. This festival is being organized to foster bonhomie and brotherhood among the sister states. The association believes that unity among diversity is the 'mantra' of our nationhood, and the initiative of binding the region with the mainstream has also to come from within.

After a glorious innings of 60 years in the national capital, Assam Association, Delhi- the common platform of the Delhite Assamese has taken up a series of programmes and activities to celebrate the Diamond jubilee in a befitting manner. The association is taking steps to make the celebrations a memorable one in tune with its relentless efforts of showcasing the diverse cultural heritage of Assam before the denizens of the national capital.

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The jubilee was flagged off with a concert by Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his worthy sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan at the majestic Siri Fort Auditorium on 8th February' 08; the concert was aptly named as 'STRINGS OF PEACE'. The concert was sponsored primarily by ONGC Ltd. and co-sponsored by Oil India Ltd and Ansal Properties Ltd.

The association is organizing a series of lectures by prominent people to bring about an understanding of the region among media, intellectuals, policy makers, planners, bureaucrats, citizens etc. of the capital city. The first lecture in the series was delivered on 16th Feb'08 at USI auditorium located at Rao Tularam Marg by Lt. General (Retd) S K Sinha, Hon'ble Governor of J&K on the glorious history of Assam.

Pride of Assam, noted film maker Sri Jahnu Barua will speak about A United North East- My never ending dream in Deputy Speaker's Hall Constitution Club, Rafi Marg on 1st March, 08.

Famous TV commentator and writer Sir Mark Tully will deliver a lecture on Telling the North East Story: The conflict and the media on 8th March.

Famous historian Dr. Ramachandra Guha will deliver an eye opening lecture on History of independence as if the North East mattered on 29th March'08 at the Speaker's Hall Constitution Club, Rafi Marg.

An all India prize money essay entitled "Sankaradeva: a Saint-Poet-Artist-and Scholar' is being organized among college students to sensitise the youth about the great social reformer, saint, poet, playwright, guru and his tenets.

The Association is full of talents and a programme with local resources is being planned for 6th April'08 at Kamani Auditorium. 5 times President of the association and current Chief Minister of Assam Sri Tarun Gogoi will be joining the members during the programme. The winners of the Essay competition will be given away the awards on that day. Also an open session will be held and former Presidents and General Secretaries of the association, who toiled to make the association, what it is today will be felicitated publicly.

The grand finale will be held on the day of Rongali Bihu festival on 20th April. A bihu team will be invited from Sibsagar, Assam and the star attraction of the show will be Zubin Garg and Debojit Saha. The bihu team will also present bihu programmes before the students of a few select schools in Delhi. The venue is likely to be again India Gate lawns.

The celebrations are aimed at creating an everlasting impact in the minds of the Delhite for a long time to come and to create a positive image about Assam.

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