The Karbi Youth Festival 2024 has commenced with a vibrant cultural and traditional extravaganza in the heart of Assam, the Karbi Anglong district. This year marks the golden jubilee of the festival, celebrating its 50th anniversary, a milestone that underscores its significance as one of the oldest ethnic festivals in India.
The festival, which usually takes place from February 15th to 19th, was preponed to January 12th to 19th, 2024, due to the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.
The Karbi Youth Festival is a grand showcase of the rich cultural heritage of the Karbi people, who are known for their agro-based lifestyle and deep-rooted traditions. The festival serves as a platform for various indigenous tribes to display their unique customs, traditional art forms, folk dances, music, and even local trade activities. It is a time when the community comes together to celebrate their identity and pass on their legacy to younger generations.
This year's celebration is particularly special as it aims to set a Guinness World Record with the 'Kengdongdang Kedam', a traditional sport involving walking with bamboo poles, expecting participation from over 30,000 youths. The opening ceremony featured 'Kanbarim', a traditional dance form, performed by more than 5,000 dancers, both male and female, symbolizing the unity and strength of the Karbi community.
The Karbi Youth Festival is held at Karbi People’s Hall, Taralangso, Diphu, and is organized by the Karbi Cultural Society. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, who was supposed to attend the fest as the Chief Guest to inaugurate this year's grand celebration on January 17, could not attend the programme due to poor weather.
Nevertheless, the spirit was high as the night set in with crowd swarming up to see their favourite bands and artists take up the stage and strum the entire night with their hit songs. a
The festival not only preserves traditional dance forms and cultural activities but also highlights the importance of agriculture in Karbi society through events like 'Rongker' and 'Botor Kekur', which are prayers for the welfare of the tribe and for ample rainfall, respectively.
As the festival unfolds, visitors can expect an array of cultural spectacles, including traditional sports, dance performances, and an exhibition of tribal delicacies. The Karbi Youth Festival is not just a celebration but a living testament to the enduring spirit and cultural richness of the Karbi people and other tribal communities residing in the district.
