3rd Dimapur Rongjali Bwisagu celebrated with fervour

Our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, May 2: The 3rd Dimapur Rongjali Bwisagu was celebrated with fervour in Nagaland on April 30 by the observance committee where a good number of guests from BTC, Assam, including high-ranking retired and in-service officers attended the celebration. Some leaders of Nagaland also participated in the celebration. An open meeting was also held with Naren Chandra Basumatary, president of the observance committee in the chair where the BTC EM of Agriculture Ansumwi Khungur Boro addressed the gathering as chief guest on behalf of BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary.

In his address, Boro said the celebration of Rongjali Bwisagu in Nagaland since 2016 was a matter of pride as the Bodos living in Nagaland and in border areas of Assam-Nagaland had been enjoying the State's biggest pre-monsoon festival. He said celebration of Bwisagu was unique among the Bodo people as they considered this festival as the greatest festival of the year and they celebrated it across the State. He also hoped that the celebration of Bwisagu in the border area would enhance the unity and integrity among the border people, besides creating mutual understanding. The meeting was also addressed by retired Secretary and Commissioner, WPT&BC, Government of Assam, Jiten Borgoyary, general secretary of Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), Prasanta Boro, and other dignitaries.

 Earlier, the president of the organizing committee, Naren Chandra Basumatary hoisted the flag of the committee in the morning while the cultural rally was cancelled due to sudden change of venue.

 Meanwhile, the NSCN (I-M) forced the organizing committee of Rongjali Bwisagu to change the venue for reasons best known to them. The NSCN (I-M) suddenly asked the committee to change the venue and restricted the celebration at Rajbari, the capital of Kachari kingdom, Dimapur, which is the common venue for the yearly event. Later, the organizing committee changed the venue to Durgapur Bodo village in Golaghat, bordering Nagaland.

Though the organizing committee did not divulge the details, it is learnt from local people that the Naga militant groups like NSCN (I-M) were not happy with the invitation of some guests from Assam. Sources said the Naga rebels had never obstructed the celebration of Bwisagu and similar programmes but this could be a reaction to the statements made by officials of Assam and leaders of various organizations that not even an inch of Assam's land would be ceded to proposed Nagalim.