BTR Govt. felicitates 165 Bodo folk artistes for Republic Day performances

Kokrajhar: The Government of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) on Friday honoured 165 Bodo folk artistes and musicians who showcased Bodo cultural heritage, including the iconic Bagurumba dance, at Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi between 1955 and 1986. The grand felicitation ceremony, held at the Bodofa Cultural Complex in Kokrajhar, was organized by the BTR Department of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the Dularai Boro Harimu Afad (DBHA) and the BTR Boro Radio and Television Artistes Association. Each artist was presented with a traditional Aronai, Endi shawl, a memento, and a cash award of ₹50,000. Among those honoured, 45 artistes were posthumously recognized, while 120 are still living. Assam Cabinet Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass, attending as Chief Guest, lauded the BTR government's efforts and encouraged other autonomous councils to similarly honour cultural ambassadors of their regions. BTR Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro expressed heartfelt thanks to the artistes for bringing Bodo culture to national prominence. He also announced financial aid of ₹5 lakh each for 12 cultural clubs that participated in Republic Day performances during the highlighted years. Also present were Cabinet Minister Urkhao Gwra Brahma, Bodo Sahitya Sabha President Dr. Surath Narzary, and other dignitaries, marking a memorable day of cultural pride and recognition.