The Karbi Youth Festival, one of the oldest and most prominent ethnic festivals in the northeastern region, is set to showcase the rich culture and traditions of the Karbi people. This year, the festival will take place from February 15 to February 19, featuring a vibrant five-day program at the Karbi Peoples’ Hall near the town of Diphu in Karbi Anglong district, similar to previous years.
The organizers of the Youth Festival are making final preparations to celebrate the event. This year, just like in previous years, the 51st Karbi Youth Festival is eagerly anticipated by the celebration committee, which will take place at the Taralangso large project, covering an extensive area of 827 bighas. This festival, known for being a significant occasion for Karbi culture and the love between young couples, will be illuminated by the enchanting natural setting of small and large hills, along with the refreshing breeze of the spring season in Fagun, showcasing the beautiful essence of Karbi traditional folk culture.
By prioritizing the traditional culture of every community residing in the district, entrepreneurs have been able to gain a distinct identity in the world of culture at Taralangso. The 827 bighas of land in Taralangso have been transformed into artist villages, exhibition halls, market houses, sports grounds, community residences, and stages for showcasing community dance and art, all beautifully decorated with various lighting and colors, resembling a new canvas.
Since 1974, the Youth Festival has been held continuously and is recognized as one of the oldest and finest youth festivals in the northeastern region. This time, the main attraction of the festival will be the Karbi Nothengpi (permanent palace), adorned with jewelry worn in the ears of a Karbi woman, standing nearly 70 feet tall. Additionally, a toy train and an eco-park will be among the main entertainment options for children in the larger area.
In an interview with us, Bidyasing Rongpi, the General Secretary of the Karbi Cultural Society, stated that the organizers have completed about 95% of the work to successfully celebrate the 51st Karbi Youth Festival through tireless efforts day and night. This year’s festival, which has a budget of around 4 crore rupees, will see a significant increase in the number of intellectuals participating.
A transformation is set to occur in the city of Maya with the participation of thousands of artists from Arunachal, Meghalaya, Cachar, Kamrup, and Nagaon, among others. Additionally, various cultural groups from different ethnic communities are also expected to take part. The inauguration of the Youth Festival will be marked by a flag-hoisting ceremony conducted by the president of KCS, Chandrasing Kro. For the Karbi Youth Festival, structures like Long Mirjeng Achethai (stage), Ching Mirjeng Achethai, and Samson sing Achethai (stage) have already been beautifully decorated in a Greek style.
The road leading to the Karbi Youth Festival, which is accessible from the national highway to Manja, has been enhanced with a four-lane structure, solar lights, and street lighting systems, all of which are commendable. Additionally, it has been reported that the organizers are providing proper training to volunteers for traffic management.
