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Come to Jagiroad, beat cash crunch

At a time when crores of people have been bearing the brunt of demonetization, an annual tribal festival in Morigaon district of Assam seems to have shown an example to beat the cash crunch.

Hosted in Jagiroad by the Tiwa Autonomous Council, the four day long festival takes pride of the age old bartering system of the tribal people of the plains' with their hills counterparts who are coming down in large numbers to join the occasion.

Suren Das, a local resident from Ghogwa area in Morigaon is happy to have participated in the festival.” I am excited indeed. I have seen this festival for the last many years. This time I gave bartered rice powder with dry fish,” said Das. “ Not only that. I have ginger to be exchanged with dry fish,” said the 50 year old Das with a smile.

Equally excited is Biki Bordoloi. Holding three chickens tied in a rope the local resident from Aahotguri is waiting to participate in the cock fights. “I participated in the last three events. This time I have three cocks and I am confident that I will win,” said Biki.

The visitors and tourists are equally delighted to have seen the festival showcasing the age old system. “ I am immensely delighted to have seen the system,” said Ajmir Singh who came from Chapormkh in Nagaon district.

Same sentiment echoes in Rohan Sing Teron. “It is really a wonderful event and  would attend it till my death,” said the local Tiwa youth. The bird fight pulls huge crowd in the sidelines of the event.

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Sanjoy K Kakati's picture

Social activist, journalist from Roha, Assam.

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