Brisk preparation on at Ghunasuti for central celebration of Ali-Aye-Ligang

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Extensive preparations for the central celebration of Ali-Aye-Ligang under the auspices of the State Government are going on at Ghunasuti of Lakhimpur district. The most important festival of the Mising community, the second largest ethnic tribe of the State, will be celebrated at Agom Migang Taburam Taid Lotta at Ghunasuti on February 18 and February 19 with a two-day long colourful programme in collaboration with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs and in association with the Lakhimpur district administration and the people of larger Ghunasuti area, the soil of which has been imbibed with the historic and tragic love story of Jonki and Panei.

Ali-Aye-Ligang is a spring festival of the Mising community associated with agriculture, especially with the beginning of the Ahu paddy cultivation. The festival marks onset of sowing seeds. The name of the festival is made up of three terms – ‘Ali’, legumes, ‘Aye’, seed and ‘Ligang’ to sow. The festival begins on ‘Ligange lange’, the first Wednesday of ‘Gimur Polo’, which occurs in February in the Gregorian calendar or on Wednesday of the month of Fagun of the Assamese calendar and in the month of February in English calendar which lasts for five to seven days. In this festival, the people of the community participate in ‘Gumraag Soman’ and dance to the tune of folk songs and melodious Oi: Nitom.

The first day of the festival is marked by the ceremonial start of paddy sowing and throughout the festival many other activities such as ploughing and tree cutting are forbidden. The last day of the festival called as ‘Lilen’, which is observed with a grand community feast. During this festival, Misings indulge in great banquet with Poro Apong or Nogin Apong (homemade rice wine) with various dishes, especially made with pork meat.

A festive environment has engulfed the entire Ghunasuti area, the beautiful landscape on the bank of the River Subansiri, the largest tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra. From Saturday, the people of the area jointly started to prepare the traditional cuisines required and essential for the festival. Simultaneously, the youths began the rehearsal of the Gumrag So:man, Lotta So:man, Oi: Nitom and other elements of folk culture to present them during the festival with rocking performances.

“It is a matter of pride that the central programme of Ali-Aye-Ligang under the aegis of the State Government will be celebrated this year in historic Ghunasuti which is still awaiting massive development. It is a glory for the people of the place that they have availed the chance to host such a programme. We hope the hospitality of the local people, their native culture and the burning problems of the area will get the attention of other parts of the State as well as the State Government through the event. We are committed to host the extravaganza with grand success,” said Dr. Dambarudhar Mili, a native of Ghunasuti and an eminent medical specialist of Lakhimpur, on behalf of the celebration committee. A series of State-level competitions on Gumraag So:man, Lotta So:man, Dum-dum Manka Mrinsunam and Oi: Nitom has also been organized in connection with the event. In addition, a fair on Mising traditional attires and exhibition of traditional cuisines will also be held during the festival.

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