DIPHU, Feb 4 - The Karbi Ningkan Kimi (Karbi New Year) was celebrated with pomp and gaiety across the Karbi Anglong district recently.
According to Karbi calendar the Thangthang Niphai 1, the February 1, is considered as the New Year by Karbi community.
The KAAC centrally observed Ningkan Kimi holding various programmes at Council�s open cultural stage at Diphu. The Karbi New Year celebration began with the Hemphu Karkil (devotion to Almighty) at around 7.30 pm. To spread messages of peace and unity, a number of balloons were released by the chief guest and guests of honour before beginning of the open session.
Subsequently, the VIP dignitaries attended the function held on the occasion of New Year celebration, were felicitated and the welcome address was given by Dhaneswar Engti, Joint Secretary, Art and Culture, KAAC, Diphu.
While attending as chief guest, Bidyasing Rongpi, EM, KAAC, addressed the open session. Rongpi greeted the people of Karbi Anglong. While appealing to the people to maintain peace and tranquillity, he laid stress on the needs of enriching Karbi culture.
It needs to be mentioned here that along with celebration of the Ningkan Kimi, the Karbi New Year was celebrated gorgeously at Howraghat Pan Engti playground under the aegis of the Jirlong Ahamthang, a Howraghat-based NGO with a two-day programme.
The Karbi New Year was celebrated by holding various Karbi traditional sports and games namely Hambi Kepathu, Hon kijen, Bathali Keup, Kengdon dang and Choketok, etc.
One the other hand, traditional food festival was also organised by the organisers this year on the occasion where numbers of food stalls of endogenous ethnics � Karbi, Dimasa, Naga, Boro, Nepali, Ahom and Adivashi � were displayed. The traditional food festival stalls were inaugurated by Bidaysing Rongpi in presence of Premala Bey, local MAC and EM, KAAC.