Assam's Kekarikuchi Village Continues To Mourn 1998 Tragedy; Bihu Festivities Absent For 27 Years

KEKARIKUCHI: The festival Bhogali Bihu in Assam brings great joy and tremendous excitement. It is the period when families prepare all their traditional recipes, gather fish, meat, and vegetables in preparation for celebrating the festivity.

However, it is quite a different scene at Kekarikuchi village. The people have not seen the festival for the past 27 years because of the tragic incident that is still sending them down.

In 1998, Kekarikuchi was making preparations for Bhogali Bihu, on the day of Uruka, when it was suddenly attacked by armed militants during the time of Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. About 17 villagers were killed, most of whom were women and children, in an attack that began at around 8:30 PM on January 13, 1998.

Instead of the bonfire of Magh Meji, 17 funeral pyres consumed the night with their flames and quenched the spirit of the festival in the community.

Joymati Kalita, Hemchandra Kalita, and a few others are some of the victims whose memory is still fresh in the minds of the villagers. Since that day, there has not been a celebration for Bhogali Bihu Uruka by people of Kekarikuchi, and even the injustice carried out against them continues to affect them with remorse.

The villagers light candles every year on the night of Uruka, pray for the souls of the dead, and keep a day of fasting, as they continue to hope for peace and justice in their community.

Also Read: Assam: 22-Year-Old Woman Found Dead In Pub Sarania, Suicide Suspected

Also Watch: