MANGALDAI, March 15: Thousands of jubilant villagers of Udmari near Kalaigaon in Darrang district morning extended a rousing welcome to Mashi Saharia – the 11-year old girl who was crowned as the champion in &TV sponsored reality show Voice India Kids-2 at the LGBI Airport, Guwahati on Wednesday. All the villagers of her tive village, members of Mangaldai Media Circle and the teachers of Pride Academy, her school, accompanied by traditiol Bihu teams received her amidst a festive atmosphere at 8 am with the beating of drums and flute, making a pre-Rongali Bihu celebration at the airport premises. A large number of well-wishers from Guwahati also joined the celebration to receive the child with the gifted voice.
Immediately after leaving the airport, Mashi and her proud parents offered homage before the memorial of legendary music maestro Dr. Bhupen Hazarika at Jalukbari in the city. A large convoy of vehicles and two-wheelers escorted her to Mangaldai. Midway, members of Mangaldai Media Circle, office bearers of Darrang District Committee of BJP and other well-wishers received her at the historic rikali Mandir at Sipajhar and took Mashi and her parents in a well-decorated open jeep followed by a group of bikers of Darrang Honda. Adviser of Mangaldai Media Circle, Bhargab Kumar Das himself drove the decorated jeep while secretary Mayukh Goswami and assistant secretary Ganesh Dutta of Mangaldai Media Circle escorted Mashi to Mangaldai and then to her tive village at Udmari.
On her journey to Mangaldai, a large number of well-wishers greeted her in various places like Sipajhar, Ghorabandha, Aulachowka, Block Chowk, Mangaldai College, Upahupara and at Bhebarghat and offered their heartfelt love and blessings. It is almost unprecedented to witness the village seniors waiting for several hours on the NH-15 with gamosa and garlands in various points. The royal return journey of Mashi followed by an unprecedented missile of supporters made the first halt at Mangaldai District Library auditorium where the jam-packed jubilant audience were eagerly for her.
In the first felicitation function to Mashi organized by Mangaldai Media Circle, Additiol Deputy Commissioner Kalpa Deka, Election Officer Antara Gogoi, DIPRO Mani Mala Gogoi, Rajib Deka of SRD Group of Companies, Youth Club, District Committee office bearers of AASU, AAMSU, AJYCP, AGP, BJP, Congress, Xahitya Xabha, Crystal Vision and more 50 social organizations offered hearty felicitation to Mashi and her parents. Mangaldai civic body chairman Pratap Bordoloi, Abdul Khalek of Darrang District Sports Jourlists Association, her mentor in music, Renu Saikia of Kalaigaon, Dr. Mrinmoy Kumar th and writer Dwipen Konwar also felicitated Mashi.