TEZPUR, March 15 � In what can be described as a rare honour for Assam and the Northeast India, the folk orchestra presented by the students of Tezpur University was adjudged the �Best Folk Orchestra� during the 8th South Asian Universities International Youth Festival (SAUFEST) 2015 held at Udaipur, Rajasthan from March 7 to 11 under the auspices of the Association of Indian Universities.
Created with the folk tunes and instruments of various ethnic cultures of Assam, the orchestra is a symphony of diverse folk music and a symbol of unity in a land of diversity. The composition and the very idea of the orchestra was highly appreciated by one and all present in the multinational youth meet.
More than 350 student delegates from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India participated in the mega international event. The activities held during the SAUFEST 2015 included cultural events, exhibitions, international symposium, intellectual discourses, young artists� camps, seminars and adventure programmes.
Bangladesh bagged the �Best Team with Goodwill (International)� award and Asian University, Delhi bagged the award of the �Best Team with Goodwill (India)�. Likewise, Sri Lanka was awarded with �Best Discipline Award (International)�, while Vanasthali Vidyapeeth of Rajasthan bagged the same award in the India category.
It may be mentioned that Tezpur University bagged the best folk orchestra team award in its maiden participation. The SAUFEST 2015 started with a cultural procession which was led by the Indian team that included Dr Bala Lakhendra, Bhupali Kashyap (Tezpur University) and Manali Lendey (Mumbai University).
On their arrival back at home on March 13, the 12-member team of performers comprising Bhintumoni Deori, Ankur Gogoi, Niloy Talukdar, Shantanu Kataki, Hrishikesh Bardalai, Bijit Gogoi, Jyotishman Handique and Bhupali Kashyap were welcomed by the Tezpur University community with emotional appreciations with the Vice Chancellor stating the feat as a rare honour to the State and the region, and how further recognitions can be achieved with professional display of the rich culture of the Northeast India.
The contingent was guided by the Cultural Officer and Cultural Coordinator of the University, Bhupali Kashyap and Dr Bala Lakhendra respectively.
