President Mukherjee inaugurates Namami Brahmaputra festival in Guwahati

President Mukherjee inaugurated the festival by lighting lamp at a mega function held on the banks of the Brahmaputra river at Kacharighat in the capital city of Assam.

Speaking on the occasion, President Mukherjee said that it is the gateway and most effective location to put into effect the Prime Minister's Act East policy.

“South East Asia is an important destination for India's investment and trade. India will soon celebrate 25 years of its association with ASEAN. Assam has immense potential. It is rich in natural resources and its people are hard working. What is needed is strong drive, right policies and effective implementation,” President Mukherjee said.

Referring to the diverse and distinctive culture of Assam, the President said that India's strength was its ability to manage diversity and forge unity in divergence.

“It was not just the elites but also the common people who were firmly committed to trust, mutual understanding and harmony. Indians were argumentative but never intolerant. Our traditions, including the teachings of Assam's great scholar and social reformer Shankaradev never allowed the practice of intolerance,” Mukherjee said.

The President said that Brahmaputra River is the lifeline of Assam and the region.

“It is intertwined into the economy, culture and day-to-day life of the people of the area through which it flows,” Mukherjee said.

President Mukherjee complimented the Assam government for having started Namami Brahmaputra as an annual festival to showcase Assam’s culture as well as potential.

Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Assam governor Banwarilal Purohit, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, state ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chandramohan Patowary, ministers of Uttar Pradesh guest from Japan were also attended in the inaugural function.

The five-day long festival is celebrated on the banks of the Brahmaputra river covering 21 districts of the state.

On the other hand, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama will present in the mega river festival on Apr 2.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev is likely to present in closing ceremonial function of the festival on Apr 4.

Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Uma Bharati, Mahesh Sarma and several prominent personalities including 40 VVIPs would likely to present in the river festival.

The mega river festival will showcase the culture, indigenous sports, arts, craft, skill industry, tourism, livelihood of tribes, traditional foods of the region.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)