10th Baokhungri Festival showcases ethnic flavours in Kokrajhar

KOKRAJHAR: The 10th Baokhungri Festival being held in the foothills of the famous Baokhungri hill in Kokrajhar, organized by the Department of Tourism, Sports and Culture, entered the second day today with the showcasing of ethnic flavours that included ethnic food items, indigenous sports competition, folk culture and dance and hill trekking competition.

On the first day, the CEM of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Pramod Boro inaugurated the main entrance gate after flagging off the peace rally from Choraikola. He hoisted the flag of the festival committee while EM of Tourism, Dharma Narayan Das and EM of Culture, Daobaisa Boro hoisted the flag of the Bodo Indigenous Games Association (BIGA) and Culture respectively. The Speaker of BTC, Katiram Boro paid floral tribute to the founder of BIGA, Chanakya Brahma at his portrait. Boro also unveiled the clay statue of Baokhungri Rani and inaugurated the Khomlainai (Bodo traditional wrestling) competition while the ethnic food stall was inaugurated by Joint Secretary of BTC, Phami Brahma. The cultural showcase was inaugurated by Secretary of BTC, Naren Ch Basumatary.

Speaking on the occasion, BTC CEM Pramod Boro said the government of BTR organized the Baokhungri Festival to bring peace and harmony among different sections of society. He said the Baokhungri Festival had a historical background where the daughter of king Daoka Raja-Diplai sacrificed her life on the peak of the hill after getting the sad news of the sudden death of her beloved. The hill is thus named as Baokhungri. He also said the ethnic food, traditional sports, folk culture and other sports competitions were added in the festival to attract the visitors.

Boro while inaugurating the Khomlainai competition said that the traditional Bodo wrestling Khomlainai had attained popularity in the national level due to Chanakya Brahma and BIGA activists. He said for the preservation and promotion of indigenous games, the government would extend support. He also said the BTR government would invite the BIGA officials to discuss the proposed holding of a national-level competition of Khomlainai.