DIBRUGARH, Sept 22 - The Adivasi Cultural Development Committee (ACDC) of the diocese of Dibrugarh organised its eighth annual Karam festival in Kumchai Kong High School, Hawai Pathar in Tinsukia district recently, a release stated.
The three-day colourful event included deliberations, training on mandar (drum) beats, Karam dance and singing. The programme was inaugurated on the second day by Norbert Xess, the Parish Priest of Jagun. Xess unfurled the flag of the Adivasi Cultural Development Committee while Januarius Anil Lakra, Principal of St Vincent�s High School, Jagun and Bikash Minj hoisted flags of jagun parish and organising committee�s respectively. The swahid-tarpan was led by Jernal Minj, the general secretary.
The deliberations were mainly held on the �roots of Adivasis, Adivasi history, Karam history and Adivasi seasonal festivals. The talks on the topics were delivered by Fr Anthony Xalxo. Albert Markey, Bartholomeo Kandulna and Suchita Tikey conducted the Mandar-taal and Karam dance training program. In the evening, there was the Karam-cutting ceremony, planting of the karam branches and the narration of the Karam-story by the Pahan (priest) Albert Markey.
The Karam dance competition was participated by twelve teams from different areas of Upper Assam. The Nilmoni team was adjudged the best in the competition. The team from Mariani bagged the first runners up while Tongna team grabbed the second runners up prizes.
