DERGAON, Feb 21 � A Mising cultural and research centre will be set up for the development of Mising culture here. This was officially announced in the open meeting held on the occasion of the two-day silver jubilee celebration of the agriculture-based festival of the Mising community, Ali Aye Lrigang, at the Dergaon Murong Ghar Community Centre recently.
The open meeting was chaired by the president of the celebration committee, Manik Chandra Doley, and moderated by the chief secretary of the celebration committee, Dr Khireswar Loying. It was inaugurated by noted scientist Dr Choudhuri Nath Saikia. Attending the meeting as the chief guest, Assam Minister of Cultural Affairs Bismita Gogoi announced a sum of Rs 5 lakh for the proposed cultural centre and also assured her help in future. Kaliabar MP Gaurav Gogoi and Dergaon MLA Arati Hazarika Kachari, who also attended the meeting as guests of honour, pledged Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh respectively for the centre. Ex-MLA Sushila Hazarika also took part in the meeting.
MP Gaurav Gogoi also released the souvenir published on the occasion. The meeting was also attended by Dr Ramananda Das, Banikanta Kaman, Ripa Doley, Indrajit Pegu, Alija Doley, Gopalkrishna Khound, Nurul Sultan, Sahabuddin Ahmed and Sushil Baldowa. Meritorious students, who have passed different examinations, were also felicitated.
Earlier, the celebration started with a cleanliness drive, flag hoisting and smriti tarpan. A cultural procession was flagged off by Dr Porag Thakur, in which several troupes participated. The main ritual of �Lrigang� � �Aam Pidgad� � was performed by 25 prominent personalities of the Mising community here, led by Manik Chandra Doley. The programme ended with a cultural function in the evening.
