Celebrating Bodo Heritage: Bagurumba Dwhou 2026 Shines in Guwahati
A Grand Celebration of Bodo Culture
Guwahati, Jan 18: The Bagurumba Dwhou 2026 event took place at Sarusajai Stadium on Saturday, showcasing a spectacular display of Bodo culture with nearly 10,000 performers participating in a coordinated mass act.
Involving participants from 81 Assembly constituencies across 23 districts, the 17-minute Bagurumba performance emerged as a significant emblem of peace, unity, and cultural revival in Assam.
After the performance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the audience, stating that the prominence of Bagurumba on such a significant stage illustrated the profound effects of the Bodo Peace Accord of 2020, which he noted had ended years of turmoil and restored faith in Bodoland and Assam.
“Once, Assam was marred by daily violence. Now, the state is adorned with the vibrant hues of its rich culture. The echoes of gunfire have been replaced by the enchanting melodies of kham and siphung,” Modi remarked, emphasizing that where unrest once thrived, music and Bagurumba now prosper.
He characterized this change as a victory not just for Assam but for the entire nation.
Modi expressed that Bagurumba Dwhou was more than just a festival; it served as a tribute to the rich Bodo heritage and a remembrance of influential figures in the community who played pivotal roles in social reform, cultural revival, and political awakening.
He honored notable personalities such as Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma, Rupnath Brahma, Satish Chandra Basumatary, Moradam Brahma, and Kanakeswar Narzary.
Emphasizing the importance of youth in fostering peace and progress, Modi noted that many young individuals had embraced the path of harmony following the peace accord, with government initiatives aiding their rehabilitation and providing financial support for new beginnings.
He highlighted the visible impact of Bodo youth stepping up as cultural ambassadors, excelling in sports, and confidently contributing to Assam’s development narrative.
Regarding development, Modi mentioned that the “double-engine government” at both the Centre and State levels had worked to connect Assam with Delhi and improve internal connectivity, with enhanced roads and highways opening up previously unreachable regions.
On the political landscape, during his second visit to the election-focused State within a month, the Prime Minister criticized the Congress party, accusing it of creating instability in Assam for political advantage and isolating the region from the mainstream.
He asserted that the BJP-led governments were actively reversing that damage through peace and development initiatives.
Thousands of attendees from across Assam gathered at Sarusajai Stadium, which was adorned with elements of Bodo cultural heritage.
Cultural groups representing various Assamese communities welcomed the Prime Minister at both the venue and earlier at the airport, with traditional performances accompanying his convoy.
Before the main Bagurumba presentation, Bodo artists performed songs with traditional instruments, followed by a brief laser show. Notable attendees included Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Pabitra Margherita, BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary, and Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary.
Additionally, the Prime Minister paid floral tributes to Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla on Shilpi Divas and received traditional Bodo honors during the event.
Modi is also set to lay the foundation stone for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor at Kaliabor on Sunday.