Correspondents
Dibrugarh: For the first time in many years, the New Year celebrations were devoid of the usual high-spiritedness and animation due to the ongoing anti-CAA stir. However, people were seen going to temples and other places of religious importance to seek blessings of the almighty for the year ahead.
Ringing the New Year as well as a new decade in, few people also burst crackers and displayed fireworks, albeit with a much weaker intensity. Most people, however, either kept their celebrations sober or did not celebrate at all as a mark of protest against the CAA, which is widely conceived to be a threat to the Assamese language and culture. The sale of cakes and sweets, though went up, did not see the usual spike.
DEMOW: New Year celebrations in Demow also lacked the usual enthusiasm. There was no crowd in the markets on New Year’s eve and on January 1, there were no picnickers in the picnic spots. Most of the business establishments remained open in Demow on January 1. On the other hand, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and 30 ethnic organizations paid tribute to the CAA martyrs by lighting earthen lamps in front of the office of AASU Demow Regional Committee on Wednesday evening in Demow. AASU, Demow Regional Committee leaders, leaders of local organizations of Demow, artistes and other dignitaries were present. Businessmen also paid tribute to the CAA martyrs by lighting earthen lamps in front of their respective shops on Wednesday evening.
Also watch: Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya honours elephant calf with ‘Assamese Gamosha’ on Jan 1, 2020