3rd Baokhungri Festival concludes with gaiety and enthusiasm

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, April 16: The 3rd Baokhungri Festival concluded recently at the historic Baokhungri hills situated near Kokrajhar with a huge flow of visitors from the north-eastern States as well as other states of India.

In the hill trekking competition on the hill top of Baokhungri, over 200 participants took part from various districts of Assam including competitors from Punjab, Tripura and West Bengal. The trekking competition was organized separately for men and women. The winners of both categories received a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh while the second and third winners were given Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 and Rs 5,000 to each from 4th to 10th position as consolation prize.

Kiranjit Kaur of Bhaitinda of Punjab got the first prize in women’s category. She finished the 5-km rough hill trekking in less than 35 minutes. Last year also, she got the first prize. Meanwhile, Mafuar Ahmad of Guwahati got the second prize and Mi Bordoloi of Jagirod, Morigaon, who received the second prize last year, won the third prize this year. The best 10 position holders who received Rs 5,000 each are Prati Basumatary of Baksa, Rabika Mashahary of Baksa, Surjya Banu of Kamrup (Rural), Rebi Boro of Baksa, Roshmi Boro of Morigaon, Bhanu Deka Bordoloi of Dibrugargh and Himakhi Boro of Baksa district.

In the men’s category, the first prize went to Sampak Rabha of Kamrup (rural). He finished the trekking in 27.47 minutes followed by Dipak Ray of Tripura (28.01 minutes) and Kuldip Kumoun of Punjab (28.09 minutes). The top ten position holders’ are Duru Sarkar of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, Jaydul Islam of Guwahati, Bhupen Deka of Morigaon, Paradhar Deka of Morigaon, Ranjit Ramchiary of Baksa, Manjit Oria of Tinsukia and Phukan Borgoyary of Kokrajhar.

Similarly, the champion of Gila competition, Ghoshkata (A) of Kokrajhar received Rs. 20,000 while second position holder Ghoskhata (B) of the same district received Rs 10,000. In Khomlaii, Udalguri district got the highest prize followed by Baksa and Kokrajhar. The Khomlaii competition was conducted in five categories for both men and women. The first prize winners were given Rs. 10,000 each while the second and third position holders were given Rs 5,000 and Rs 2,500 respectively. Around one lakh people enjoyed the traditiol hill trekking and Baokhungri festival.