(ANS – Jorhat) – After the earlier success of the first “Ethnique” Festival, it was repeated this year with a range of culture, music and traditions of the young Mising ethnic group. The event took place from 4-7 January 2013 in the extensive buildings at “Don Bosco-Life Plus”.

The Festival opened on the afternoon of 4 January, with Mr J. Taku, a local official, as guest of honour. In his opening address Fr Thomas Kalapurackal, sdb, the Rector and Festival promoter, indicated how all cultural and ethnic differences are God's gift to humankind and that it is by seeing the worth of such differences that we build up the individual and the community.

Keeping the same setup as the earlier event, the Festival directly involved young Misings who attend the informal education program known as I-Card or the “Young Misings Association”, in total around 200 youngsters, mostly older youth who have left school but who do not as yet fully fit into the community. It was they who looked after all the preparation and execution of the Festival, from setting up areas, to lighting, making and selling craft items, performances, and preparing materials on local cuisine.

A novelty this time was the involvement of the “Rhythm of Dance” Dance school, which performed to public applause on 6 January. Other special attractions were the many stage scenes presented by the young Misings, who presented traditional stories from their culture and the various rituals that mark out community life. The Festival's aim, in fact, as well as presenting Mising culture for outside visitors, was to remind tribal youth themsleves of the importance of belonging to a community. “We are proud to be Misings and are happy to show our rich culture, customs and rituals to the people” said a student, Rakesh Kuli.

The Ethnique Festival, which takes place in the first week of January each year, has brought much agreement amongst people and, while the basic structure remains the same “new ideas are welcome”, says Fr Kalapurackal. Public interest in what was on show was evident and many donations, in money and in kind, made the Festival possible.

A professor from JB college, Mrs. Nazrine Shamim Ahnmed, said: “It is an awesome festival where we come to learn about the Mising community. But as things are, there is need for more advertisement, so that the general public will be aware such a beautiful celebration.” “We have planted a seed. We are going to see it grow - says Fr. Thomas Kalapurackal - With the type of media attention and public support which has begun to show up, Ethnique is a sure bet. For the marginalized young, it is a dream come true”.

Published 16/01/2013