A CORRESPONDENT
LAKHIMPUR: "A community cannot survive without cultural revolution. Strong sense of developed culture brings prosperity to the society by uniting and integrating the people," stated Buddheswar Rai in Lakhimpur on Saturday. The State president of Koch Rajbongshi Cultural Society made this statement while delivering his lecture in the open session of the celebration of 'Bishua' festival.
Notably, 'Bishua', the community festival of Koch Rajbongshi community of Assam, was centrally celebrated for the first time ever in the history of North Assam this year. The day-long celebration of the festival was organized at the Tyagkshetra of North Lakhimpur town on Saturday, in connection with the 17th foundation day of the Lakhimpur district unit of All Koch Rajbongshi Students' Union (AKRSU). The event was organized by AKRSU in association with Lakhimpur district units of Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani, AKRSU and Koch Rajbongshi Sahitya Sabha.
The agenda of the event kick-started with the conduction of the traditional Bishua Puja, performed by Bishnu Dev Goswami, the Xatradhikar of Gharmora Xatra. It was followed by the unfurling of 17 AKRSU flags to observe the 17th foundation day of the Lakhimpur district unit of the organization. After the lighting of ceremonial lamps, smriti tarpan programme was conducted. Then traditional attire competition, quiz competition and instant essay writing and drawing competition on Viswa Mohaveer Chilarai were organized among the students.
The open session of the event commenced with reception committee president Dilip Kumar Baruah in the chair under the management of AKRSU joint secretary Dipak Borah. It was inaugurated with the presentation of Kushan Nritya. Chief adviser of AKRSU Pranabjyoti Rajbongshi, adviser Goutam Chahariya, Sodou Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani president Pranab Narayan Deb, Human Right Commission Chairperson Dr Parashmoni Singha and many other prominent persons, dignitaries of Koch Rajbongshi community frontal organizations delivered lectures attending the event as guests of honour. Koch Rajbongshi Cultural Society president Buddheswar Rai, as appointed speaker, delivered his lecture on the culture of Bishua festival and significance of traditions involved in it.
Iin the same event, six awards were conferred to eight prominent personalities of the Koch Rajbongshi who tremendously contributed to the growth of AKRSU, development of the community. Viswa Mohaveer Chilarai Award was conferred to prominent businessman, Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani adviser Tarun Dutta while Kamata Ratna Ambikacharan Choudhury Award was conferred to Girish Borah. Sahitya Ratna Arun Kumar Rai Award was given away to Surya Kumar Borah, Jana-Neta Sarat Singha Award was conferred on Kamal Saikia and Arun Borah posthumously, Purna Narayan Singha Award was given away to Bishweshwar Borah (posthumously) and Bishnu Prashad Dutta while Kabirai Pradhani Award was presented to Tileswar Borah. In the event, several cultural groups showcased the traditional cultures of the community regarding Bishua.
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