A CORRESPONDENT
LAKHIMPUR: Due preparations for the central celebration of Ali-Aye-Ligang under the auspices of the State Government are underway in Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur district. This year, the major festival of the Mising community, the second largest ethnic tribe of the State, will be celebrated in Dhakuakhana subdivision on February 17 with colourful programmes in collaboration with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs and in association with the Lakhimpur district administration and the people of the subdivision.
Notably, 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 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', 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.
On February 17, the festival will be celebrated at the playground of Brahmaputra College of Dhakuakhana under the auspices of the State Government. On this occasion, State Panchayat and Rural Development and Cultural Affair Minister Naba Kumar Doley erected the lai-khuta at the festival venue on February 8 in the presence of Cultural Department Officer Pabitra Kumar Pegu and other administrative officers of the subdivision. Then the minister took part in a meeting with the administrative officers in order to chalk out plans and programmes to conduct the event with success. On the other hand, the Lakhimpur district administration organized a review meeting with the festival organizing committee and the sub-committees in the Brahmaputra College auditorium on Wednesday in this connection. Deputy Commissioner Dr. Jeevan B, Development Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Baruah, Superintendent of Police Longnit Terang, Additional Superintendent of Police Pranab Kumar Pegu, Cultural Officer Pabitra Kumar Pegu and the district officers of several departments were present in the meeting wherein detailed discussion over various aspects of the celebration of the festival, including the maintenance of law and order, was held.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, along with a galaxy of ministers of his cabinet, prominent literary figure of the State, Homen Borgohain, first IAS officer from the Mising community, Shakuntala Doley Gamlin will take part in the programmes of the festival.