People welcome 2015 with renewed hope
Despite January chill and cloudy weather in some parts of the State, celebrations went on in full swing. While some chose to stay indoors and celebrate with their families, thousands made a beeline for religious and recreatiol spots
BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, January 1: Despite large–scale rebel violence in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts last month, people of Assam on Wednesday night welcomed the New Year with renewed hope and celebrated the occasion by holding rave parties, picnics, visiting parks and temples, wishing for a better tomorrow. The celebrations continued till Thursday with more enthusiasm.
Some of the well known religious and recreatiol spots in the city, like Kamakhya temple, Sukreshwar temple, Umanda, Ganesh temple, Balaji temple, Ugratara temple, State Zoo, Sraddhanjali Kan Park, Kalakshetra and many others were abuzz with people who enjoyed the first day of the New Year with their families and friends.
Also people, including backpackers and travellers, from different parts of the country ushered in 2015 with family events, prayers, picnics and trips to popular tourist spots in the State, following a night of partying.
Despite January chill and cloudy weather in some parts of the State, celebrations went on in full swing. While some in the city chose to stay indoors and celebrate with their families, thousands made a beeline for the State Zoo and the Planetarium.
Most of the religious places in the city and other important towns of the State saw heavy footfall. Revellers from across the State and outside soaked in the ambience of some beautiful locations on the outskirts of the city.
Followers of Sri Ramakrish Paramhansa gathered at the Ramakrish Mission at Birubari here and other parts of the State for the Kalpataru Utsav, which is celebrated on this day every year in memory of the spiritual guru. It is believed that Ramakrish Paramhansa had gone into a trance on January 1, 1886, and granted enlightenment to his disciples.
Far away from the madding crowd, several groups took short trips to the bank of the mighty Brahmaputra, Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Shillong with many opting for homestays instead of luxury hotels and resorts.
Picnic spots in and around the city witnessed large crowd enjoying the first day of 2015. Scenic locations like Rani and Hatsila were some of the favourite spots near the city for picnickers.
The five–day Chandubi festival also kickstarted on Thursday. The theme of this year’s Chandubi festival is based on the ethnic culture of the Rabha tribe.
Makeshift traditiol Rabha huts were constructed at the festival venue for public display. Ethnic food stalls were also set up for visitors to get a taste of tribal food available in the State and in the northeastern region.
For youngsters, the posh GS Road and few other areas in the city provided a plethora of options with clubs, discotheques and food joints.
On the other hand, the 28th Guwahati Book Fair organised by the Publication Board, Assam at the Assam Engineering Institute field here witnessed heavy footfall on Thursday. Many people visited the fair to buy books of their choice for themselves or for a gift.
A semir on the lives and works of Dr Maheswar Neog, Devakanta Barua and Munin Borkotoky were held at the book fair venue, in which, several well known persons took part. Tribute was also paid to the great trio.
In the evening, students of Modern English School at Kahilipara performed a cultural programme at the book fair venue, which enthralled the people gathered there.