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

Noted sports organizer and senior Congress leader Phani Sarma breathed his last at his own residence at Bamunimaidam here at 7.15 a.m. today. He was 76.He was the treasurer of ruling Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and also involved with many other socio-cultural organizations of the State. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Assam Congress president Bhubaneswar Kalita deeply mourned the death of Sarma and said that the state had lost a dedicated sports organizer at his death. They also prayed to the almighty for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed their deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Our correspondent from Guwahati: In a bid to unite all regional forces to recoup power at Dispur from Congress, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has determined to constitute a working group for unification. And they are all set to get a new president to clear the decks for the much-hyped reunification. This was decided by the party in its central executive committee meeting held at Mangaldoi on Sunday. Most of the members of the committee have come down heavily on party president Brindaban Goswami for his failure to coalesce the party with AGP (Progressive) led by former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The party top guns came down heavily on Goswami for his lack of efficiency and asked...
1) Three Match One day series starting on Tuesday (27th of June 2007). 2) One-off one-day match against Pakistan July 3. 3) A full tour of England where India will take on the hosts in a three-match Test series and seven one-dayers starting July 19.
Belfast : India won a rain curtailed one day match against Ireland. Unbeaten half centuries from Gautam Gambhir and Sourav Ganguly helped India register a nine-wicket victory at the Civil Service Cricket Club here on Saturday. Chasing a target of 171 in 39 over set by the Irish team, India reached 172 runs for one wicket in 35 overs with Gambhir contributing an unbeaten 80 and Ganguly scoring 75 not out. Almost three hours of playing time was lost because of rains. Put into bat first Ireland made 193 but the target for India was revised to 171, according to the Duckworth-Lewis method. Piyush Chawla, was the main wicket taker for India with a haul of three wickets for just 29 runs in...
Sibasagar police has arrested four individual for alleged links with ULFA. Among them three individuals are from Sibasagar and one from Moran. The individuals have been arrested for assisting in collection and supplying huge amount of money to ULFA. The arrested individuals have been identified as Mr Pradeep from Nivedon Stores, Mr Radheshyam from Apsara Store and another all hailing from Sibasagar and Mr Bikash Agarwal from Moran. Ironically while on the one hand ULFA is threatening North Indians to leave Assam at the same time we find them also assisting the ULFA.
The first Mobile Banking facility in Assam was inaugurated in Diphu on 21st July,2007. LANGPI DEHANGI RURAL BANK which is mostly in Karimganj and North Cachar Hills District is introducing it in Assam. It was inaugurated by famous personalities like Dr. M.K. Nayak (Deputy general manager,SBI), Mr. B.K. Phukan (DIF, sectional officer), Mr. K.C. Behra, Mr. G.K. Sarmah and Mr. N.K. Hazarika. This is indeed good news for the people of Assam and should pave the way for many such initiatives.
Our Correspondent The overall flood situation in Assam improved on Saturday as the water level of the Brahmaputra, and its tributaries shows a receding trend but the brimful woes of those displaced are going on. According to latest informations, the mighty Brahmaputra is flowing below the danger level. The first wave this time displaced as many as 30,000 people ravaging properties worth Rs 2 crore ravaging a total land area of about 4,285 hectares, including nearly 1,150 hectares of farmland.The Government’s distribution of relief resources like rice and other essential commodities, besides medicine and healthcare facilities are continuing, say officials.Our Correspondent from...
Guwahati: In yet another ‘handiwork,’ ULFA explodes a powerful bomb in the busy Machkhowa areas on Saturday morning at around 7-30 which left four people dead and more than twenty injured.The blast that rocks again in the time of the grand Ambubachi mela atop Kamakhya and Asian Athletic Grand Prix at Sarusajai, took place in front of a mosque. All those four were killed on the spot.The bomb was placed beside a small tea stall at the daily fruit and vegetable market. Most of the vendors and visitors were not present in the morning when the bomb exploded.The injured people have been admitted to the nearby hospital for treatment by the people who rushed to the spot hearing the...
Guwahati: Union minister for development of the north eastern region Mani Shankar Aiyar says the Look East Policy can be successful only when the region links with South East Asia.Addressing a visiting delegation from Thailand on Friday in Agartala, Mr Aiyar says the South East Asia’s link with the north eastern region cannot come only through trade but through an integral business relationship.Disclosing that the Government pins hope on as many as 50 more airports in the North East within the next five years, the minister this will help the region boost trade with the South East Asia.According to Mr. Aiyar, some of the key areas of economic activity where Thailand has made its mark...
Guwahati: A powerful bomb that explodes in the city on Saturday morning leaves four people dead besides more than twenty injured.he explosion took place at Machkhowa and that too in front of a mosque at a daily vegetable market at around 7-30 am. All those killed in the explosion are pedestrians.Immediately after the explosion, top ranked police and civil administration officials arrived in the spot and investigation is going on.The injured were admitted to the nearby hospital.No one has so far been rounded up in the city. Details are awaited.