The eighth edition of the Rongali festival, an event that celebrates the culture and traditions of Northeast India, concluded on Sunday with a remarkable turnout and significant business opportunities for local entrepreneurs. The festival, organized by Shyamkanu Mahanta, drew in more than one lakh people on the final evening and saw huge crowds in attendance on the preceding days as well.
Rongali has evolved into a community movement, with various tribes and communities coming together to participate in and invite others to the festival. The infusion of attractive components aimed at youth engagement led to significant participation from young individuals throughout the three days. Utpal Sharma, the president of the All Assam Students’ Union, highlighted Rongali’s role as a cultural movement in Assam, emphasizing the seamless blend of modernity and tradition within the festival.
Domestic entrepreneurship took centre stage, with over 100 stalls hosted by local entrepreneurs experiencing a boost in business. The festival also recognized the contributions of several entrepreneurs through the Rongali Entrepreneurship Awards, presented by the Chief Secretary of Assam, Ravi Kota. Lifetime achievement awards were bestowed upon Ashok Panchari, while start-up entrepreneurs Achitra Borgohain, Nilotpal Chaudhury, Manas Bhuyan, and others were also honored for their remarkable contributions.
The festival’s Rongali folk stage showcased a diverse array of indigenous tribes, and ethnic cuisine and sculpture exhibitions proved to be major crowd-pullers. The Rongali Fashion Weekend featured 16 designers and performances by popular musicians and singers, including Bollywood singer Divya Kumar, making the event a major highlight.
Rongali also became the platform for the Rongali Good Vibes stage, kickstarted by Swiggy delivery boy Pranjit Haloi and has now become one of the largest musical festivals in India. The Rongali Hip Hop stage showcased 150 artists from across Northeast India, adding to the eclectic mix of performances throughout the festival.
The festival also featured the inaugural Rongali Music Award, with the legendary singer Dipen Baruah receiving the lifetime achievement award for his contributions to Assamese music. Minister Bimal Borah commended the organizers for their efforts and suggested extending the festival’s duration to a week to further promote business opportunities. Another cabinet minister, Ms. Nandita Garlosa, lauded Rongali as a significant platform for showcasing regional talents and entertainment.
Renowned artist Zubeen Garg concluded the festival with a captivating performance, expressing his enthusiasm for the overwhelming public support. He also proposed extending the duration of Rongali for the next edition and called for the support of the Assam government in promoting the festival nationwide to attract more tourists.
The success of the eighth edition of Rongali not only celebrated the vibrant culture and traditions of Northeast India but also presented an invaluable platform for local entrepreneurship, promising even greater prospects for future editions.