Eclectic Northeast – July 2019

(avery) #1

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
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