DHUBRI, March 16 - Rapid modernisation and lack of interest of the new generations to carry on with the traditions of the Char Chapori people, the unique culture that is largely found in Fakirganj area of the Dhubri district is in a shambles.
While talking to The Assam Tribune, senior citizens and socially conscious people of Fakirganj area said that they have preserved the unique tradition and culture of the Char Chapori people, but the new generation is not showing any interest in taking it further.
The people of this area is known for performing the unique Lathi Bari dance, which they perform on the onset of harvesting season and also during Idd and Muharam. During winters, the children go door-to-door and perform the Mahgun Geet to collect food items from the village houses so that they can organise a fun-filled picnic at the river islands. While during floods, the boatmen of this area perform the Nao baisali folk dance and when any religious leader like a Pir arrives in their village, the locals perform the Fakrali geet, a song to describe their issues and problems so that they can be blessed by them.
The female members of the villages perform a bia geet wishing the newly-wed couple a happy married life. Char Chapori people also perform Goalpariya geet and Goalini nritya.
However, these traditions and culture of Char Chapori people are slowly vanishing, feel the senior citizens. They also said that the young generations is not showing any interest because their tradition do not have the glamour compared to others. It was also informed that lack of proper promotion is another reason for which the culture is losing its popularity.
�Although most of the people living in these areas are followers of Islam but their culture, traditions and customs are different. They have their unique traditions of dance and music, which they have been following for generations,� said Khadem Ali, a Fakirganj-based author, who has publish nine books based on the culture of Char Chapori people.
He also said that the youths are more attracted towards the western culture, �They hardly understand the importance of preserving the unique culture of our people. With modernisation, they are forgetting that it is this culture and tradition which make them unique. It helps in giving them an identity.� The author also said that it has become necessary to preserve the culture or else it will completely vanish soon.
