The 52nd Karbi Youth Festival has begun in Diphu, celebrating Karbi culture through dances, music, competitions and traditional events.
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DIPHU — The 52nd Karbi Youth Festival (KYF) was formally inaugurated on Monday at Rangsina Sarpo ground, Taralangso, with Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Tuliram Ronghang announcing INR 1 lakh for each participating Karbi Cultural Society (KCS) zone.
The inaugural programme on the second day of the five-day festival began with the ‘Rongketong’ cultural procession by cultural troupes from different KCS zonal camps to the Rangsina ground. At the venue, the KCS president hoisted the KCS flag, followed by the singing of the KCS anthem ‘Kardom dengtha o Karbi an’ by the KCS central cultural troupe.
Karbi Richo (traditional king) Longsing Ronghang invoked the horbong arnam kepu, seeking good weather and safety during the festival.
Organised by the Karbi Culture Society, the festival showcases Karbi folk culture through traditional dances, songs and music along with modern entertainment events. Thirty-two KCS zones from Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and other areas including Nagaon, Sonitpur, Kamrup, Hojai, Morigaon and Meghalaya are participating.
The five-day event features competitions in traditional dances, songs, music and indigenous games and sports. Other programmes include the National Rock Contest, Miss KYF, live concerts by invited national and international artists and bands, Strong Man competition and drama performances.
In his presidential address, the KCS president referred to observations made by culturalist Bishnu Rabha Prasad regarding the Karbis and spoke on their classification as a Scheduled Tribe, citing features such as distinctive culture, language and customs, geographical isolation and social and educational backwardness. He said Karbi philosophy about life, nature, human origin, morality and coexistence has been preserved through customs, rituals, myths, folk songs and social practices, and urged the community to contribute towards preserving the culture, language and traditions.
Inaugurating the festival, Tuliram Ronghang said the Jambili Athon, the totem pole symbolising the five clans of the Karbis, has been included in a postal stamp card by the Nagaon postal authorities. He acknowledged the Karbi Culture Society for organising the festival annually and said the event allows people from other communities to learn about Karbi culture and heritage. He also thanked Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council employees for contributing one day’s wage towards the festival and urged collective support to promote Karbi culture globally.
The programme also included felicitation of five achievers: Rumila Terangpi and Kache Teronpi for winning gold medals at the International Master Games 2025; Sabina Teronpi for receiving the National Handicraft Award from the President of India; Binong Teron for receiving the Assam Gaurav in education; and Choran Aboha, Kaziranga, for contributions to Karbi cuisine.
A Malayalam-language book on Karbi stories titled Karbi Kadhakal (translated stories), edited by Dr. Arsu with consultant editor Padmashree Dhaneswar Engti, was released during the function.