HT Bureau
Guwahati, April 10: Curtains were brought down on the sixth edition of Assam’s biggest cultural and colourful festival, Rongali, with a promise to return next year for 7-days.
The week-long festival will provide a robust market to the home-grown entrepreneurs for becoming self-sustained.
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This year, around 200 home-grown entrepreneurs, agri-entrepreneurs, self-help groups among others bagged a lucrative platform to showcase their product and witnessed a footfall of almost 1.5 lakh people relishing the Assamese cuisine, music, fashion, weaves, bhaona, sports, cinema and art under one roof.
The ‘Vocal for Local’ exhibition created a local market for these budding entrepreneurs along with some well-known entrepreneurs such as Gahori of Manoj Basumatary, Bahoboli of Akash Gogoi, Repose, Bhogali Jalpan, Kanyaka and Gorukhuti. All the entrepreneurs bagged lucrative opportunities and made new connections across India.
Food was the major component of Rongali and various cuisines from the entire North East were on display.
To showcase the food in a much elaborate way, NGO Priyobandhu organised a three-day food competition on Assamese sweet dish, Assamese vegetarian dish and Assamese non-vegetarian dish.
Even food researcher Dr Geeta Dutta organised a food exhibition, which saw the tribal food spread of various tribes of Assam including Tiwa cuisine, Sonowal Kachari cuisine, Rabha cuisine and Karbis cuisine.
“Rongali has become a brand, which is connecting the people across North Eastern states. This has been possible because of the incessant support from public, government and media. This exhibition for vocal for local was organised so business opportunities can be created for young entrepreneurs. So, in accordance with their demand, we are planning to go for seven days from next year. The culmination of every edition is an emotional as well as a proud moment for all of us. This festival can never be possible without the support of our audience, government and the immense hardwork of our team, who ensure that everything goes fine. Every year the festival is becoming bigger in terms of participation and footfall. It’s a matter of huge honour that 200 entrepreneurs, startups, self-help groups, farmer producing companies and government agencies took part in Vocal for Local exhibition and made connections and profit. We promise to come back again next year with a new and better experience,” said Shyamkanu Mahanta, chief organiser, Rongali.
There was also a 500-year-old Ankiya Bhaona face-off, where various groups performed on plays such as Ram Bijoy, Rukmini Haran, Parijat Haran. Group Dast R won the competition and took home Rs 80,000 cash prize. Monikanchan Kala Kendra and Gandharba Kala kendra adjudged second and third position respectively.
Rongali had an Open Mic, Hip Hop stage where music, poetry sessions and other activities were held and provided a platform to fresh talents. Artists presented folk music, independent music. As music binds people together, ‘Rongali Good Vibes Music Stage’ saw gigs of some fresh and famed names including Sannidhya Bhuyan, Bhaskar Opswel, Dipakshi Kalita along with Zubeen Garg, Raghu Dixit, Bipul Chetri. The fest organised special screenings of blockbuster Assamese movies such as Hiya Diya Niya, Mission China, Ratnakar among others in association with the Assam State Film Finance & Development Corporation.
Rongali presented spectacular fashion shows by the best designers, models, and showstoppers, who showcased the rich handloom and fabrics of the region.
Art has always been an indispensable part of Rongali and this time too it hosted an art exhibition that aimed at creating awareness about various art forms.
