Karbi Youth Festival

Karbi Youth Festival Karbi Riso-Nimso Rong Aje
Karbi Youth Festival Entry Gate
Status	Active
Genre	Folk, Musics Festivals.
Begins	15 February  2025 (2025 -02-15)
Ends	19 February  2025 (2025 -02-19)
Frequency	Annually
Venue	Karbi People Hall, Taralangso
Location(s)	Diphu, Karbi Anglong, Assam
Coordinates	25°52′34″N93°25′23″E / 25.876°N 93.423°E / 25.876; 93.423
Country	India
Inaugurated	27 December 1974;49 years ago (1974-12-27)
Founder	Under the leadership of Roy Inghi, with Late Janasing Terang, Lunse Timung, Lawrence Teron etc.
Previous event	2024
Next event	2025
Participants	~5000
Attendance	~1,50,000 each day [1]
Area	~672 acre [1] (2.7 KM2 (currently expanding)
Activity	Contest in Singing & Dancing (Traditional & Modern form), Pageant, Traditional games, Fairs, Musics Festivals, Exhibitions. etc.
Patron(s)	KAAC
Organised by	Karbi Cultural Society
Sponsors	Public donation, KAAC
Website	Karbi Youth Festival
karbiyouthfestival.com

Karbi Youth Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the Karbi People living in East and West Karbi Anglong district and other districts in the Northeast Indian state of Assam, with occasional participation from other tribes and states of Northeastern India. It is considered the oldest ethnic festival in India. ^{[2] [ citation needed ]} It is organised by Karbi Cultural Society (KCS). It is locally known as "Karbi Riso-Nimso Rong Aje". ^{[3] [4]}

History

In 1974, the first edition of the festival was held at Diphu Club, Diphu. Its aim were to preserve the dying culture and traditional attires and folk songs and dances of Karbi tribal. The event was formed by a group of people led by Roy Inghi, with Late Janasing Terang, Lunse Timung, Lawrence Teron, and others. In 1977, Karbi Cultural Society (KCS) was formed in response to management of the festival, and as an entity to preserve, look after the cultural and traditions of Karbis. ^{[5] [6]}

Historically, the festival was celebrated in and around the district of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong. Moving from one place to another place, each year, to rise awareness for preservation of tribal culture and traditions. There was no specific month and date, nor periodic. It was held twice in the year 1985, January and December (eleven months apart), and none in the year 1977 (thirteen months apart). Since 1994, the event has permanently shifted to Taralangso, Diphu. ^[7]

Taralangso

Since 1994, Taralangso, also called Karbi People Hall (KPH), has been hosting the annual events of Karbi Youth Festival (from 20th edition). ^[7] The location now has an Cultural museum, 4 Open stages platform, Indoor stage hall, Artisan village, 3 Helipad, Inspection Bungalow (IB), Guest House, Eco-Park, a Garden, and 2 playground, beside 3 pond, parking space, KCS office, and quarters^{[ citation needed ]}.

Celebration

Main festival

The main event is held/celebrated on 15–19 February of every year in Karbi Peoples Hall (KPH), Taralangso situated in Diphu town in Karbi Anglong district of the Indian state of Assam.

15 February

The first day is a ceremonial day. Opening of the festival, arrivals and welcoming of participants and contestants.

16 February

Start of events, and competition, contests in traditional oral recitation etc.

17 February

18 February

Pageant, Strongmen, Rap battle etc.

19 February

Closing events, Music festival etc.

Concurrently, various traditional songs, dances competitions take place at four open stages during the length of the festival^{[ citation needed ]}.

Zonal festivals

Smaller festivals called Zonal Karbi Youth Festival (ZKYF) are also celebrated in their respective regions, during late autumn, pre-harvesting season of rice, before coming together for main cultural events cum yearly festival at Taralangso, Diphu. ^[8] Zonal festivals was conceived around the time when the main festival was permanently settled at now Taralangso. Recently, these festivals are held along side Durga Puja to minimise local holidays. As of December 2023 ^[update] , it has completed its 31 edition. ^[9]

Gallery

Nothengpi building (Cultural Museum)

Image showing Rangsina Sarpo Statue in Taralangso

Image showing Thong Nokbe Statue in Taralangso

See also

• Rongker
• Diphu

References

1. Karmakar, Rahul (12 January 2024). "Assam youth festival, born out of a stir, turns 50". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
2. "47th edition of Karbi Youth Festival underway in Karbi Anglong district - Sentinelassam". www.sentinelassam.com. 17 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
3. "Karbi Youth Festival, 2015". The Mileage. 3 March 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
4. "KYF history". Karbianglong.gov.in. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019.
5. "Karbi Youth Festival turns 50, celebrations begin". 13 January 2024.
6. "Assam's Karbi tribe's 50 years of perseverance to protect culture". 11 January 2024.
7. Rongphar, Mohon (1 January 2018). "Case Study of Karbi Youth Festival and the Society" (PDF). International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT). 6 (1).
8. "27th Havar Karbi Riso Nimso Rong Aje concludes". 9 October 2019. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
9. https://web.archive.org/web/20210504010506/https://www.thehillstimes.in/regional/27th-havar-karbi-riso-nimso-rong-aje-concludes/

External links

• Karbi Youth Festival 2021 (Everything You Need To Know About)