The ‘1st Sildubi Changpang North East Festival’, a 3-day event organised by Sildubi Borholla Changpang Circle Eco-Tourism Development Society (SBCETDS) with an aim to promote ecotourism in the area, which got underway on Friday here at Sildubi, Borholla, Jorhat Assam (near Changpang village, Nagaland) continue to attract visitors including tourists with thousands thronging the grand festival on the second day.
Various stalls selling local cuisines, handloom, local products etc have been set up at the festival site by Assam-Nagaland border area residents and visitors were treated to cultural extravaganza that went on throughout the day and late into the night.
Special invitees from both Assam and Nagaland including the Raja Chaw Bisa Nang Singpho graced the event on the second day.
W.Y. Kithan, advisor/member Assam-Nagaland Border and Peace Committee, special guest of the function, spoke on the focus of the festival and also touched upon the shared history of brotherhood among the Nagas and their Assamese brethren.
Kithan said the focus of the celebration was to promote and develop ecotourism for which, he said, local, state, national and international cooperation was needed.
He also narrated the Burmese attack on Assam in 1816 during which the fleeing Assamese people were said to have taken shelter in Nagaland and were received warmly by the Nagas who provided them food, shelter and protection.
Based on that story, Kithan asserted that people of both states should live as brothers and sisters and show the love, unity, understanding, and harmonious living to the rest of the world.
Several others from both states spoke on the occasion wherein they appealed for dialogue, unity and peace between people of the two states.
Border Peace Coordination Committee (Assam-Nagaland) coordinator Er. Temsu Wathi Ao also visited the festival along with four executive members, two from each sides.
Cultural troupes from both sides enthralled the thousands of visitors who came to witness the first of its kind festival in the area.
Amongst the entertainment line-up of the festival, the melodious rendition of the theme song “We are in the same boat, brother…” stood out with its poetic lyrics that talks about friendship, love, unity and peace. The song was presented in all participating language by an all-female group.
The three-day festival will culminate on Sunday.