Assam: Chandubi Festival celebrates its 14th anniversary

BOKO: The five day-long Chandubi Festival, which started from January 1 to January 5 of this year, celebrated its 14th anniversary with colourful folk dances, ethnic food and locally produced different kinds of wines and beers. The festival was opened by the Palashbari constituency MLA Hemanga Thakuria in the presence of RHAC Chief Executive Member Tankeswar Rabha, vice chairman Ramakanta Rabha, Executive member Sumit Rabha, Nagarmal Swargiyary, Rashmi Bala Rabha, members of All Rabha Students Union (ARSU) along with many other invited dignitaries and people of the area. During the opening of the festival, the souvenir ‘Lokeia’ was also released by Gaurikanta Bhauyan, a teacher and creator of the Kuhipath along with other invited guests.

During the festival, many attractive ethnic sports competitions were organized by the festival celebration committee which includes Baghbol competition, Chagalchari competition, Khutikhel, Lewatana and many other Rabha tribe’s ethnic sports competitions held.

Meanwhile, tourists enjoyed the performances of different tribe’s folk dances including Garo, Boro, Hajpong, Bihu, Rabha and many others.

“We invite cultural groups from different states every year in an effort to blend the civilization and culture of other states with the culture of our Rabha people. Therefore, it is important to take into consideration the fact that the Rabha people can learn about the civilization and culture of other states and the teams from other states can learn about the Rabha tribes and we believe that this will help our Rabha tribes to move forward,” Ashok Nongbag, the founder secretary of the Chandubi Festival and general Secretary of Kamrup District ARSU said.

There are lots of folktales about the Chandubi Lake. The lake is surrounded with hills on both Assam and Meghalaya states. Out of many folktales, according to a folktale, five hills of the surrounding hills drowned during the earthquake in the year 1897 and five means in Khasi language is ‘San’ and ‘dubi’ means drowned and from there it is called as Chandubi lake.

Ashok further said, “The number of participants in the festival will be slightly reduced this year due to the Gunotsav organized by the Education Department of the Government of Assam. However, 10,000 to 20,000 people are expected to attend the festival every day.”

“The festival has strengthened the people of the area financially. Around five thousand people live in the area surrounding the Chandubi Lake which includes Rajapara, Senimari, Kothalguri, Joromkhuriya, Ranikhamar, Bherbheri, Harigarh, Jupanbari and many other villages,” said Dhananjay Rabha, Finance Secretary of the festival committee.

Rabha also said, “During the festival, people of the area sell various items like locally-produced vegetables, bamboo ornaments, indigenous local food items, rice beer and wines, local fruits, Rabha traditional dresses including Kangbang, Kemlet, Pajar, Patani, gamosa etc.”

Dhananjay Rabha regretted that the festival is held every year with the financial assistance of the people of the area. “The State government has not taken any special steps to preserve and develop the Chandubi Lake as a tourist destination. Every year government spends on various programmes and festivals, but never showed any interest to save or make the lake attractive. However, according to the State Tourism Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, Chandubi is one of the nine lakes recognized by the Government of Assam including Chalchala, Bildara, Kapla, Deepar, Chandubi and four others,” Dhananjay said.

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