MUSHALPUR, April 16 - The first Bodoland Youth Festival organised by Mushalpur district committee of Bodoland Students� Union (BSU) and Youth BPF which started from April 7 at Bathoupuri Stadium near Mushalpur in Baksa district concluded at the same venue on April 9.
The three days festival which was marked by multi-disciplined sports, multi-lingual literary and cultural events started with inauguration of the main archway of the festival by Ansumwi Khungur Boro, EM, BTC on April 7 last followed by hoisting of flags of the host organisations. Maneswar Brahma, MLA of Barama LAC and Thaneswar Basumatary, MLA of Chapaguri LAC paid homage to the martyrs along with other leaders. Biswajit Daimary, MP, Rajya Sabha inaugurated the festival with ceremonial illumination of earthen lamps while Supriya Rani Brahma, president of Women BPF released the pigeons symbolising peace and harmony. Nirupoma Borgoyary, vice president of Women BPF released the balloons into the air.
Speaking on the occasion, the MP expressed hope that this platform will give an exposure to the dormant talents of the youths in sports, literature, culture as well as other creative fields and will also encourage them to stand against superstitions and drug abuses. The first days programme included plantation programme, demonstration of martial arts like Tae-kwon-do, Karate, Wushu etc,. outdoor sports competitions like football, cricket, volleyball, kabaddi; poem recitation, painting, quiz contest and cultural competitions.
The programme on April 8 included cleanliness drive, cultural rally on the theme of unity in diversity, debating competition, group discussion, cultural competitions, counselling on �career guidance and economic development of youths� and release of souvenir. The youth festival concluded with final competitions of all the events, prize distribution ceremony, body building demonstration and cultural night.
