Eclectic Northeast – July 2019

52 │ │ July 2019

culture

B

wisagu, known as Bihu in Assamese, is a very

important festival for the Bodo community.

Like Bihu, it signifies the start of a new year.

Bodo people celebrate the day by sipping on jau

(rice beer) and indulging in the popular dish called

gwkha-gwkhwi, which literally means ‘bitter-sour’.

A special dish prepared with assorted leaves and

pork or chicken, it is served only during the festival.

There is a belief is that it helps ward off evil spirits

and helps bring health and prosperity to the person

who consumes it. But that is not all, people living in

Bodoland Territorial Area Districts look forward to

this day for one more reason.

That reason involves travelling to a remote village

located about half an hour away from the main town

of Kokrajhar. Flanking the village lies a beautiful and

mysterious hill called Baokhungri, that has found an

important place in the festival in the last few years.

Trekkers climb the hill and many activities take

place on the foothill grounds. It is safe to say that the

Tanushree Rabha

The Baokhungri Festival has become an important part of

the Bwisagu festivities

Conquering Baokhungri Hill

Baokhungri Festival has become an integral part of the

festivities. Around the time when the festival is held,

in the month of April, the hill is covered with lush

green vegetation.

Scaling the Hill

During the festival, the rather quiet and

uninhabited hill is teeming with hundreds of people

who trek to the peak, most of whom start early in the

morning. In addition to that, various other activities

take place at the foothill. This year, the 7th Baokhungri

Festival kickstarted on 11th April and continued for

three whole days. Now an annual affair, it witnesses

participation by people from near and far. A few years

back, it was not easy to climb the hill, but now many

provisions have been provided to make the climb

easier for trekkers.

The festival was first organised in 2013 by the

Tourism Department of Bodoland Territorial Area

District (BTAD) with the aim to encourage people to