SIVASAGAR, Feb 24 � With a view to strengthen brotherhood and harmony among the people living in the border areas of Sivasagar district in Assam with those of Mokokchung and Longleng districts in Nagaland and Longding district in Arunachal Pradesh, the Sivasagar district administration launched a �Border Outreach Programme� on February 20 at the Amguri Tea Estate field at Haluating within the district.
The three-day event which got under way at Haluating along the Assam-Nagaland border on February 20, was held on the following day at Kanubari along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border and will be held on February 25 at Geleky Athkhel along the Assam-Nagaland border.
Inaugurated by Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner Virendra Mittal, the function at Haluating was attended by his Mokokchung counterpart Sushil Kumar Patel. Similarly, the Border Peace Festival at Kanubari was graced by Kanubari MLA Gobleial Dengbang and the Deputy Commissioner of Longding district, Topi Baam.
The Border Peace Festival is an initiative to enhance people to people contact through sports, cultural exchange and meetings to bring the three sister States, namely Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh closer than ever before.
Inaugurating the Festival at Haluating, V Mittal applauded the tremendous response from the public and the participants, including different NGOs. �It is with such people to people contact through sports, cultural exchange, meetings etc between the two neighbouring districts that can yield goodwill among all sections of the people. This will further help to foster peace and development,� said Mittal. The DC was also hopeful that knowing and appreciating each other�s socio-economic problems and cultural values would generate goodwill and help in reducing conflict. He also thanked the Mokokchung district administration for the effective coordination they received at various times.
Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner Sushil Kumar Patel also appreciated the initiative taken by the Sivasagar district administration for furthering peace and harmony. He also assured further cooperation in all future endeavours for ushering in peace between the neighbouring States.
Terming India as a �unique country�, Patel pointed out that in the past Nagaland was also a part of Assam, adding that people from Nagaland also share the same �sentiments� with the people of Assam.
The peace meet at Haluating and Kanubari was participated in by cultural troupes, both men and women, volleyball teams, Self Help Groups from the surrounding Assam-Nagaland and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh villages. The event also witnessed tug of war (for both men and women) between the teams of Assam-Nagaland and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh.
A host of cultural troupes from Tuli area representing Tuli town, Tzudikong, Wameken, Kangtsung, Anaki etc. performed, including display of Naga bamboo cutting, stick walking, go-cart, etc while Bihu dance, Jhumur dance, Gumrag dance of the Misings of Assam, Hengdang Dance of the Tai community were performed at Haluating.
Similarly at Kanubari also, cultural troupes from Longding district performed traditional dances of Arunachal Pradesh, while colourful cultural programmes were presented by artistes of Assam.
