DIBRUGARH, Feb 1 � The festival of Me-Dam-Me-Phi was celebrated in Milannagar and in Boiragimoth by the Ahom community within the city in a big way on Saturday where Ahom priests chanted mantras in Tai language after offering oblation to the ancestors and their Gods.
In Boiragimoth, the celebration was marked in Tai Shiksha and Sanskritik Kendra. Dhaneshwar Konwar was the chief priest for the occasion. He initiated the religious ceremony in presence of members from the Ahom community. This is the 48th annual celebration under the aegis of Tai Shiksha and Sanskritik Kendra in Boiragimoth. The celebration started with the hoisting of the flag by Tarun Gogoi, working president of the organising committee.
In keeping with the celebration, extempore speech, art and Tai script writing competition was also organised for the children and youths. The open session presided over by Kamini Gogoi, president, organising committee was inaugurated by Dr Shristidhar Dutta, former Dean of Rajiv Gandhi Central University, Itanagar. Puspa Gogoi, ex-president of Purbanchal Tai Sahitya Sabha was the speaker for the session. A souvenir was also released during the occasion by Dr Jahnabi Gogoi, faculty of Dibrugarh University. The feast concluded with a grand community meal.
The ninth annual community celebration in Milannagar was organised by Brihotor Milannagar Me-Dam-Me-Phi Ujjapan Committee. The prayers here were conducted by three priests � Khageshwar Gogoi, Haren Borgohain and Krishna Borah. A special Tai cultural troupe from Maniki village in Sivasagar was also invited for special performances in Tai during the celebration.
The open session was presided over by Padmeshwar Gogoi, president of the organising committee. Dr Sukho Baruah, a distinguished litterateur was the chief guest while Tai Sahitya Pandit Gyananda Phukan attended the session as one of the speakers. The organisers at Milannagar also took the opportunity to honour octogenarians of the locality during their celebration. Octogenarians Hemakanta Dehingia and Mukheswar Gogoi were called on the stage and felicitated. The event was anchored by Diganta Phukan, general secretary of the organising committee.
Tinsukia Correspondent adds: The most coveted religious function of the Tai Ahom community Me-Dam-Me-Phi was celebrated on Saturday at several places in Tinsukia district.
At the Tai Sanskriti Charcha Kendra, Sripuria here the celebration began with the hoisting of the flags of the kendra as well as of the celebration committees by the presidents of the kendra and the committee, Manoj Bora and Rajen Baruah respectively. Maidum torpon programme was performed by Pranjal Rajkonwar, general secretary of the kendra. Rajani Gogoi, president of the Poi Furalung Sangha, Tinsukia paid tribute to the Chawlung Siu-Ka-Pha with floral garlands. Poitang of the function was initiated by Ajit Gogoi. On the occasion, drawing competition, musical chairs, tekeli bhonga competitions was organised.
The open session was presided over by Manoj Bora where the chief advisor of the All Assam Students� Union Samujjal Bhattacharyya, Medini Mohan Gogoi, Professor, Dept of Tai Language, Dibrugarh University besides many other dignitaries addressed the gathering. A souvenir published to mark the occasion was released in the open session.
