Skip to content Skip to navigation

Assam2008 held in USA

The NRI Assamese get together, Assam2008 of North America was held again this year on the 4th of July weekend. This annual event is part of an on-going effort to bring together the scattered Assamese community in North America for a celebration of Assamese heritage and culture. As always there is good fellowship, fun filled activities, cultural programs, special workshops, special presentations and of course lot of good food - catered and home baked. It was a 3 day event. The 1st day, July 3rd started with reception, registration, and then a group dinner at very nice restaurant where people can chat & socialize. The evening would have ended with dance to DJ Music. However, due to some family tragedy in one of the families this event was cancelled for the night. July 4th & 5th were filled many activities including options for families to go site seeing tour of nearby Valley Forge National Historical Park and Long Wood Botanical Garden during morning and early after noon.

Our guest artist for the event was well known Ms. Tarali Sarma, the only Assamese National Film Award winner for Best Female Playback Singer for the film Akashi Torar Kothare in 2004. She is a regular performing artist of All India Radio & Dooradarshan. She is a singer, composer, director, & philanthropist. Tarali not only performed on both days, but she also participated with our local talented artist Sankumani Sarma in a duet and played the harmonium in another song. She simply got everyone involved in singing and dancing on both days. Everyone had a blast having a good time and enjoyed her down to earth personality. We wish the best to Ms. Tarali Sarma and her family. Folks also bought Tarali’s latest CD like a hot cake.

In addition to our guest artist there were plenty other very talented artists who performed many different cultural items from flute recital, karate, Satriya dance, Assamese modern dance, Bihu dances, Husori, Hindi songs, Gazals, of course lot of Assamese songs, Bihu songs, Boro dances, too many to mention here. Thanks to all the talented local artists, without their support and participation we could not hold these events . The cultural show on 4th was started with a chorus specially composed for the event. Thanks go to Mrs. Anuja Bala Devi of Guwahati for composing. Music was given by her son Mr. Sankumani Sarma. Thank you Sankumani!

Some of the other highlights of the event was a workshop on CPR & Heimlich Maneuver, something everyone should know. Thanks to Dr. Nirode Das for this work shop where many got hands on training. FASS, Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters, USA representative Mr. Rajen Barua gave a very informative presentation on FASS and on the myriads of much needed projects the group is working on. He also showed the 1st ever Assamese audio-video show of a folk tale for children by Ankur Bora. And last but not least released "Learn Assamese with Flash Card", which sold like hot cakes.

By Dhruba Das, Pennsylvania, USA

Comments

Utpal Kumar Sharma's picture

Hi everybody there in US. Myself is Sankumani's elder brother from Guwahati. I was very happy to see the good works done by u people in US for Assamese culture and heritage.

Pages

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Police opened fire to disperse bandh supporters when they blocked the Natioal Highway-31 at Joghighopa in Bongaigaon district and three bandh supporters were injured.Tension erupted in Dhubri district with the CRPF and the police opening fire to disperse bandh supporters, who burnt the effigy of Mohilary near No:2 Kali Mandir on NH 31 at Gauripur.AMSU activists also blocked NH-31 at New Hatipota near Bilasipara, ransacked the Bodoland Peoples' Front office in Gauripur as well as eight shops at Asharkandi besides forcibly closing shops at Gariapatti.
Fresh incidents of violence takes away the chance of peace in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Bagsa and Dhbubri districts when the All Assam Minority Students' Union’s bandh call disrupted normal life across the state on Tuesday.The Army jawans are patrolling the violence-hit areas and more security forces have been deployed in BTAD areas with night curfew. Normal life was paralysed with sporadic incidents of violence in several districts during the 12-hour bandh called demanding scrapping of the Bodoland Territorial Council and the arrest of its chief Hagrama Mohilary.
Normal life comes to a grinding halt across the state on Tuesday following the 12 hour bandh call by the All Assam Minority Students Union demanding action to atop the BTAD violence. The bandh that began at 6 in the morning has crippled normal transport service and business activities in the state. The impact is heavy and total in the minority-dominated areas of the state. A section of bandh supporters tried to enforce the bandh even with a string of stray incidents. The bandh crippled normal life a day after the Bajrang sponsored-total and peaceful bandh called demanding arrest of AIUDF president Badaruddin Ajmal.
One person was killed and five others have been injured in fresh violence in the Kokrajhar district on Tuesday.Four incidents of firing were reported from the district on Monday. One was killed in Bhumki in the Salakati town, four others were injured in the Pakritol village after unidentified gunmen opened fire. Another person was also reported to have sustained injuries in Gossaigaon.
Security has been beefed up in the riot-hit BTAD areas after fresh incidents of violence from Saturday. Indefinite curfew has been clamped in Chirang district since Saturday evening after unidentified miscreants killed five persons in a fresh orgy of attack. Assam Police and paramilitary forces launched a massive operation to nab the perpetrators. Two senior police officials have been rushed to monitor the situation in Chirang district. Eighty additional CRPF companies have also been deployed to bring the situation under control. Army jawans continued flag march on Sunday to maintain peace.
The United Liberation Front of Asom on Sunday warned of attacks on outsiders if the killing of Assamese youths are allowed to continue. A statement signed by Paresh Baruah, ULFA alleged that 14 Assamese youth had been killed outside Assam. The statement reads that the atrocities inflicted on the people from Assam must be stopped immediately. ULFA further charged All India United Democratic Front president Badaruddin Ajmal with spreading communal tension for political mileage.
Five persons were injured in a fresh incident of violence in Kokrajhar district on Sunday. The incident took place unidentified miscreants persons attacked five persons including a child near Salakati Railway Station in Kokrajhar in the wee hours. The injured have been admitted to the Bongaigaon civil hospital.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday ordered BTAD administration to crush the spine of the trouble mongers in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts. He asked the administration to open fire at anyone who resorts to arson and violence. Gogoi has asked a team of his cabinet colleagues to visit the BTAD areas to assess the situation.
Four boys were injured when group of students clashed in Morigaon on Saturday. The incident took place at a boys' hostel of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Morigaon Saturday night. According to police, hostel inmates of Class 11 and Class 12 were involved in the clash, in which both sides used sharp weapons. Police rushed to the school and brought the situation under control. Hostel inmates have vacated the place on Sunday morning fearing further violence.
Assam Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi on Saturday expressed his deep gratitude to Karnataka government for taking measures to tackle the issues facing people of the North East origin. Talking to Karnataka deputy chief minister R Ashoka, Gogoi said that he was impressed with the way in which the Government of Karnataka and in particular the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka R Ashoka swung into action and tackled the issue. The Chief Minister also thanked his Karnataka counterpart over telephone in the presence of the delegation and said that there are a large number of people from Karnataka settled for generations in Assam and similarly Bangalore is home for a large number of people...