KOKRAJHAR, Mar 13: The 8th Bodoland Indigenous Games Festival, 2016 held from March 10 at South Aflagaon in Kokrajhar district under the aegis of Bodoland Indigenous Games Association (BIGA) concluded on Sunday with enthusiastically. Over 300 participants took part in the competition and demonstration of traditional games where Udalguri district emerged as the top in the medal tally.

The indigenous games festival at South Aflagaon witnessed huge spectators and received tremendous response from the people in the locality as the traditional games are being diminished. The Bodoland Indigenous Games Association (BIGA) has been working for the preservation, renovation and promotion of different traditional games. There had been competitions of indigenous games on six events which included Khomlainai, Gila, Batha, Khikhor, Daria-Pantha and Dongfang Bukjunai while the rest of 46 identified traditional games were demonstrated.

On the second day of the festival, the President of the BIGA Boloral Brahma hoisted the flag of the association. The flags of the Reception Committee and district committees were hoisted by the presidents of the respective districts simultaneously followed by the homage to founder of BIGA late Chanakya Brahma by Abinash Islary, Vice President of the association. There were also introductory meeting and seminar on the indigenous games on the first and second day of the festival.

The Khomlainai (Boys) competition was inaugurated by Harkeswar Daimary, president of Ramfalbil Anchalik Sports Association (RASA) while the female Khomlainai was inaugurated by the president of the All Bodo Artistes’ Association (ABAA) Bikash Basumatary (Laloo). The Council Head of the Department (CHD), Sports and Youth Welfare, BTC Ms. Jagyabati Mohilary inaugurated the Gila competition while the secretary of the Kokrajhar District Sports Association (KDSA) Sarada Paul inaugurated the Khikhor competition. The Batha competition and Daria-Pantha competitions were inaugurated by Sabharam Basumatary, former Chairman of Afalgaon VCDC and Bhadrasing Narzary, social worker respectively while Dongfang Bukhunai was inaugurated by social worker Baren alias Baga Aijeng Narzary.

The prize distribution ceremony was chaired by the president of the Reception Committee, Prahlad Brahma. Prominent personalities like-Rajiv Brahma, EM of BTC, Pramila Rani Brahma, MLA, Jwmwi Wary, MCLA, working president of the BIGA and EM of BTC Doneswar Goyary, leaders of various democratic organizations and local intellectuals were present in the prize distribution ceremony. The prizes, certificate and medals were handed over to the winners through the guests present on the function.

Talking to reporters, the Working President of the BIGA Doneswar Goyary said the association has been trying to make the sporting event as professional that will provide livelihood to the person. He said the association was trying its best to get berth in the Indian Olympic Association to promote the indigenous game events.

The general secretary of the BIGA Guno Sankar Wary said the BIGA has been trying hard to include certain events in Indian Olympic Association to upgrade the traditional games. He also said the association was working for modernization of some traditional games.