Northeast India needs its own unity festivals

NEW DELHI: Northeast India festivals are fad. Of late, there has been a marked increase in the number of such festivals in different parts of the country. In the capital alone, since November last year, there have been three northeast festivals, followed by one each in Mumbai and Bengaluru. The 'northeast' tag does help in attracting people from the so-called mainland, already charmed by the idea of a remote, exotic place that enjoys nature's bounty. Organizers of such festivals also claim that these events help in dispelling wrong notions about the region by ending the disconnect that has prevailed for centuries, and bring in tourists and business. But people in the region themselves seem to know little about their part of the world and the different cultures that exist there. Not just opinions, but even people are divided along communal, tribal and linguistic lines in the region. What about their unity?

Some baby steps are being taken in Assam. A three-day festival was recently held in Guwahati upon suggestions by a few student and political pressure groups that "we need to be united first to foster greater unity with the rest of India".

Ethnic fashion show at Rongali festival.

"We felt the need to do something in the region that could act as a confluence of different cultures and traditions existing here. Rongali festival was thus born. A lot of people misjudged the event going by its name — Rongali Bihu is the most important festival in Assam as it ushers in the Assamese New Year. But Rongali means "colourful path" and we wanted it to be the meeting point of different colourful traditions. We got the support of different groups and tribal councils and we can say that we pulled off a great event," said Shyamkanu Mahanta, the chief organizer of Rongali festival who has also been organizing the much-hyped Northeast Festival in Delhi and Mumbai in the last few years.

The festival was a great success as it also unwittingly unleashed a new phenomenon in Assam—nightlife. "We don't associate nightlife with the Northeast for obvious reasons (read insurgency). But here, we saw 20,000 people crowding the venue as late as 1.30am. And why not, the best of rock and pop bands, including Indian Ocean, performed," Mahanta added.

Rahul Ram performs at the festival.

But despite Mahanta's optimism, the festival did have its share of controversies. Popular singer Zubeen Garg pulled out a pistol during his performance. Although he said that for northeast to move forward people will have to abandon the gun, some of his later theatrics with the weapon were misconstrued by the local press as a live threat to shoot people in the audience. Then there was the regionalism lobby that condemned the "import of a ruinous brand of foreign culture".

Ethnic fashion show at Rongali festival.

"Such things do happen and will continue to happen for a long time. There are people with vested interests who don't want change and don't appreciate people or work that usher in change. It's also because of such people that the region has remained disconnected from the mainland for such a long time. All the good things that happen in Delhi, including northeast festivals, should happen here also. It's important for greater national integration," said Bhaskar Papukon Gogoi, a doctor and political commentator from Dibrugarh, Assam.

With the guns falling silent in the Northeast, guitars are back. This Bihu, people are perhaps hoping for a bohemian rhapsody, one of peace and unity.

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