Folklore binds Aruchal with Gujarat: Khandu

Itagar, March 28: Aruchal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu along with Governor Brig (Retd) Dr BD Mishra on Tuesday evening joined celebration of famous Madhavpur Mela at Ghed in Porbandar district of Gujarat, an annual celebration commencing on Ram vami, to commemorate wedding ceremony of Lord Krish with Princess Rukmini.

Madhavpur Ghed, is a small but culturally significant village, where according to folklore, Lord Krish had married princess Rukmini of Bhishmaka gar. This kingdom, historically became prominent during 12th-16th century under the Chutiya kings of Assam.  Its ruins, dating back to 8th century, were excavated during 1969 to 1973 near Roing in Aruchal Pradesh.

“There may not be any historical or written records but our folklores have been passed down through generations. These folklores bind us with an uccounted but strong thread. In the present context of diversity, we need to not only respect but celebrate this bond for unity in diversity,” Khandu advocated. He praised Prime Minister rendra Modi for his intent to connect the NE India with rest of the country through whatever way possible, an official report informed here today.

“This way we in far-off frontiers will have a sense of belonging and related to rest of the states,” he reasoned.

Profusely thanking Gujrati people for bringing Aruchal to limelight by connecting with it even if the link is based on folklores and myths, he viewed the festival as one of its kind for acknowledging Aruchal for the first time. He said that even when the folklores attributed Rukmini to have hailed from present-day Aruchal, never in the history of Madhavpur Mela, Aruchal was ever made a part of it. The Mela witnessed its first-ever cultural integration with the NE. Union Ministry of Culture (MoC) is holding the four-day event since Sunday in a grand way.