HAFLONG, Dec 17 - The third edition of the Judima Festival, supported by the Dima Hasao Tourism Department and organised by the Judima Festival Organising Committee, Dibarai Haflong is being held on December 28 -29 next. This was disclosed by Projit Naiding, finance secretary, JFOC in the presence of Amrit Kemprai, working president, Beena Hakmosa, vice-president, Narattam Thaosen, secretary and Pijus Haflongbar, assistant secretary at a press meet held at Dibarai on Friday.
Addressing the pressmen, Naiding explaining the aims and objectives of the Judima Festival and said that the festival will be held with an aim to promote tourism. A brainchild of the Youth Association for Development and Empowerment (YADEM), the first two editions were organised in collaboration with the Mahila Samity and Dibarai Village Committee (DVC). Both the events were widely supported by individuals and organisations including the Dima Hasao Tourism Department and the Dimasa Youth Forum (DYF), Assam Mountaineering Association etc.
The festival is named after Judima, the traditional rice brew of the Dimasa community, which is unique in taste, method of preparation and is an integral part of the social life. Apart from being a symbolic celebration of rich cultural artefacts of the district, the festival aims to initiate the idea of alternative livelihood to the local brewers and tourism among the ethnic groups residing in the district. Events in the festival thus are planned accordingly. Thus one can savour various ethnic delicacies in the form of food, fabric and fabulous performances like traditional song, dance and sports which provides a glimpse of life and lore of people in the district. Cultural tours are an added attraction for those interested in knowing about different ways of living in the lap of nature.
Haflong as the only hill station in Assam and the district of Dima Hasao having almost 90 per cent of land undulated with hills, ridges and serpentine rapids provides ample scope for adventure events. A major attraction is the Barail night trekking that culminates in a breathtaking morning view across the Barail range that hosts the highest peak in Assam. The 19-km heritage trek along the metre gauge railway track carries one back to the colonial engineering marvel. The trek begins at Lower Haflong and culminates in Jatinga, the place famous for bird mystery. Trekking to Bendao Baiglai waterfall is refreshing. Sight seen in Haflong, which is perched on a high ridge is an experience on its own with several breath-taking views and a walk around one of the largest manmade lake in an urban space at this height.
