Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Thousands packed the banks of the Kalahi River in Kukurmara, Assam, on Wednesday, October 21. The crowd gathered for the annual boat race on Vijaya Dashami. This year held extra weight. The Kukurmara Anchalik Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee celebrated its golden jubilee.
Nine boats battled on the water. Ishwar Putra No. 2 Jiakur took the top spot, earning a trophy and Rs 31,000. Ashirbad from Gumi Jarpara Raij grabbed second place, netting Rs 21,000. Mama-Bhagin from Chamaria finished third, taking home Rs 7,000. Mojibur Rahman steered the third-place boat and walked away with Rs 1,001 as the best helmsman. Six Durga Puja committees also chose the river for the immersion of their idols.
The celebration caps an 11-day run of cultural events that started on October 11. The committee formed in 1977 reached its 50th year. But the mood on the riverbank turned serious. Residents pointed to heavy silt clogging the waterway. Boats struggle to move through the shallows. The river is dying. Locals demanded the state government clear the river mouth immediately. They fear for the future of the race.
"Residents warned that the gradual deterioration of the river could threaten the continuation of the traditional boat race, which has been an integral part of Vijaya Dashami celebrations in the region for generations."
The race serves as a vital link to the past. The community insists that saving the river is the only way to keep the tradition alive for those who follow.
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