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KOKRAJHAR: The 2nd open Rongjali Bwisagu was celebrated under the aegis of Tourism and Cultural Affairs departments of BTC at Saralpara picnic spot along Indo-Bhutan border on Monday. The Bwisagu celebration was joined by Bhutanese officials and guests from Sarpang and Gelephu.
Local cultural troupes from different communities presented folk Bwisagu and traditional folk dance, and sang Bwisagu songs. The Bhutanese guests joined the Bwisagu dance and enjoyed the ethnic flavours and traditions. Locally produced sticky rice beers, pork, snail, and other ethnic food items were served to the guests from Bhutan and BTC, marking the age-old relations of the people from across the two sides through people-to-people meetings and exchange of thoughts and love between each other.
Former Deputy Chief of BTC Kampa Borgoyari inaugurated the open Rongjali Bwisagu and called upon the people to uphold the unity and integrity. He said that Rongjali Bwisagu was the greatest festival of the Bodos, celebrated to mark the Assamese New Year beginning from April 15. As Assamese people enthusiastically celebrate the Rongali Bihu, the Bodos also celebrate the Rongjali Bwisagu with ethnic fervour, sing Bwisagu songs, and dance together wearing beautiful traditional dress and Aronai, he said, adding that Bwisagu enhances social harmony and strengthens integrity among the diverse communities. He called upon all not to detract from the basic character of Rongjali Bwisagu and asked the new generations to follow and celebrate Bwisagu with its traditional attire.
Secretary General of Bhutan-India Friendship Association (BIFA) Dawa Penjor in his address said that Bwisagu celebration had a deep cultural and traditional significance for the Bodos since time immemorial and it strengthens the relationships of love and brotherhood in the society. Saying Bhutan and India had been maintaining mutual relationship between the two countries over the decades, he said that the Bodos of the plain and the Bhutanese in the hills had age-old relations. He said, “We have had deep relations between the Bhutanese and Bodos since ages.” He said that since the formation of the mighty Himalayas, rivers used to flow from these Himalayan mountains and go downward, connecting the Bodos. “Bodos are our ‘Kurma’ (Relation in English) from ancient times and they had a trading relationship with us. The traders of both sides used to exchange their needful items and this age-old relationship between the two sides should be continued forever,” he said, adding that they had deep respect for each other’s cultural identity.
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