Chandubi Festival marks celebration of ethnic food and local wines with colorful folk dance

The five-day-long Chandubi Festival, held from January 1 to 5, celebrated its 14th anniversary with vibrant folk dances, ethnic food, and locally produced different kinds of wines and beers. The Festival was inaugurated by the Palashbari constituency MLA Hemanga Thakuria in the presence of RHAC Chief Executive Member Tankeswar Rabha, vice chairman Ramakanta Rabha, Executive Member Sumit Rabha, Nagarmal Swargiyary, Rashmi Bala Rabha, members of All Rabha Students Union (ARSU) along with many other invited dignitaries and people of the area. During the opening of the festival, the souvenir 'Lokeia' was also released by Gaurikanta Bhauyan, A teacher and creator of the Kuhipath along with other invited guests.

During the festival, many attractive ethnic sports competitions are organized by the Festival celebration committee which includes the Baghbol Competition, Chagalchari competition, Khutikhel, Lewatana, and many other Rabha tribe's ethnic sports competitions. Meanwhile every day tourists enjoy the performances of different tribe's folk dances including Garo, Boro, Hajpong, Bihu, Rabha, and many others.

"We invite cultural groups from different states every year in an effort to blend the civilization and culture of other states with the culture of our Rabha people. Therefore, it is important to take into consideration the fact that the Rabha people can learn about the civilization and culture of other states and the teams from other states can learn about the Rabha tribes we believe that this will help our Rabha tribes to move forward", emphasized Ashok Nongbag, the founder secretary of the Chandubi Festival and General Secretary of Kamrup District ARSU.

It is to be mentioned, that there are lots of folktales about Chandubi Lake. The lake is surrounded by Hills of both Assam and Meghalaya states. Out of many folktales, according to a folktale, five Hills of the surrounding Hills drowned during the earthquake in the year 1897 five means in Khasi language is 'San' and 'dubi' means drowned, and from there, it is called Chandubi Lake.

Ashok regretted, "The number of participants in the festival will be slightly reduced this year due to the ‘Gunotsav’ organized by the Education Department of the Government of Assam. However, 10,000 to 20,000 people are expected to attend the festival every day." 

"The festival has strengthened the people of the area financially. Around five thousand people live in the area surrounding the Chandubi Lake which includes Rajapara, Senimari, Kothalguri, Joromkhuriya, Ranikhamar, Bherbheri, Harigarh, Jupanbari, and many other villages", said Dhananjay Rabha, Finance Secretary of the festival committee.

Rabha also said, "During the festival, people of the area sell various items like locally produced vegetables, bamboo ornaments, indigenous local food items, rice beer and wines, local fruits, Rabha traditional dresses including Kangbang, Kemlet, Pajar, Patani, and gamocha".

Dhananjay Rabha regretted that the festival is held every year with the financial assistance of the people of the area. "However The 14th anniversary of the Chandubi Festival, which is located at a distance of only 65 km from Dispur, yet the state government has not taken any special steps to preserve and develop the Chandubi Lake as a tourist destination."

"Every year state government expenses on various programs and festivals, but the government never shows any interest in saving and making the lake. However, according to the state tourism minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, Chandubi is one of the nine lakes recognized by the Government of Assam including Chalchala, Bildara, Kapla, Deepar, Chandubi, and four others." 

Rabha also said that from last year Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) has slightly financially assisted in the festival.

Ashok Nongbag, the founder and secretary of the Chandubi Festival said, "'Save Chandubi, Save Heritage' is the main motto of our festival which was started from the year 2010. The main objective to organize the festival is to motivate and create awareness towards saving the nature of the Chandudi Lake cum wetland."

"During those days, ARSU members observed that smugglers cut many rare trees and killed wild animals and birds. From 2010 to 2023, we now feel very proud that the villagers surrounding Chandubi Lake saved and secured the area from smugglers on their own and tried to improve nature and its diversity to attract tourists. However, the Lake is a reserve forest area under the West Kamrup Forest Division." added Ashok Nongbag.

Nongbag added, "Wild Elephants, Deer, Wild cocks, Fox, Porcupines, leopards, and many other wild animals living in Chandubi Lake and the surrounding area. Nowadays the people of the area have totally banned the killing of wild animals and cutting of trees in the area. People of the area are now well-civilized through the Chandubi festival and understand how life can be lived by preserving nature, not by destroying it. The dream of saving nature is slowly becoming a reality through this festival."