Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam on January 17 and 18, during which he will participate in major cultural and development programmes in the state, officials said on Friday.
On Saturday, at around 6 p.m., the Prime Minister will attend a grand traditional Bodo cultural programme at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati.
The highlight of the evening will be ‘Bagurumba Dohou 2026’, a historic cultural event celebrating the rich heritage of the Bodo community.
During the event, more than 10,000 artistes from the Bodo community will perform the Bagurumba dance in a single, synchronised presentation.
Artistes representing 81 Assembly constituencies from 23 districts of Assam are expected to take part, making it one of the largest cultural performances of its kind in the state.
Bagurumba, one of the most iconic folk dances of the Bodo community, is deeply inspired by nature.
Traditionally performed by young women, with men accompanying as musicians, the dance symbolises blooming flowers and harmony between human life and the natural world.
Its gentle, flowing movements imitate butterflies, birds, leaves and flowers, and it holds deep cultural significance, representing peace, fertility, joy and collective harmony.
The dance is closely associated with festivals such as Bwisagu, the Bodo New Year, and Domasi.
On Sunday, at around 11 a.m., the Prime Minister will visit Kaliabor, where he will perform the Bhoomi Pujan for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project, an ambitious infrastructure initiative worth over `6,950 crore.
The 86-km-long project, officially the four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715, is designed as an environmentally-sensitive National Highway project.
It includes a 35-km elevated wildlife corridor passing through Kaziranga National Park, along with 21 km of bypasses and 30 km of widening of the existing highway.
The project will improve connectivity across Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and Golaghat districts while ensuring free movement of wildlife and reducing human-animal conflict.
During the programme, the Prime Minister will also flag off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains — the Guwahati (Kamakhya) – Rohtak and Dibrugarh–Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) services — strengthening rail connectivity between the Northeast and northern India.
BJP will win Assam polls with thumping majority: Himanta
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma exuded confidence that the BJP will retain power in the state in the upcoming assembly elections, likely to be held in March or April.
Speaking to reporters after offering prayers at the Mata Tripura Sundari temple at Udaipur in Tripura’s Gomati district on Thursday, Sarma said the election schedule is expected to be announced in February.
Considering the work done by the BJP government and the fact that 100 per cent of the promises made have been fulfilled, the party is well placed to return to power with a thumping majority in the 126-member Assam assembly, he said.
Asserting that the elections are being fought on the issues of development and identity, he said around 1.6 lakh youths have been provided government jobs over the past five years in a transparent manner.
Sarma also voiced concern over the infiltration of Bangladeshis in the Northeast, particularly in Assam.
“Infiltration is a complex situation in the Northeast, particularly in Assam. It is apprehended that the Muslim population will be 40 per cent of the total population in Assam after the Census. We are battling for survival,” he said.
Sarma said the governments of Tripura and Assam have been taking action against the infiltration, but the West Bengal government is not working for the national cause.
“If we want to survive in the Northeast, we have to do a lot along the India-Bangladesh border. That’s why the BJP staying in power in Assam and Tripura is crucial. The saffron party’s win in West Bengal polls is equally important”, he said.