Conquering Baokhungri Hill

The Baokhungri Festival has become an important part of the Bwisagu festivities.

- Tanushree Rabha

Bwisagu, known as Bihu in Assamese, is a very important festival for the Bodo community. Like Bihu, it signifies the start of a new year. Bodo people celebrate the day by sipping on jau (rice beer) and indulging in the popular dish called gwkha-gwkhwi, which literally means ‘bitter-sour’. A special dish prepared with assorted leaves and pork or chicken, it is served only during the festival. There is a belief is that it helps ward offevil spirits and helps bring health and prosperity to the person who consumes it. But that is not all, people living in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts look forward to this day for one more reason.

That reason involves travelling to a remote village located about half an hour away from the main town of Kokrajhar. Flanking the village lies a beautiful and mysterious hill called Baokhungri, that has found an important place in the festival in the last few years. Trekkers climb the hill and many activities take place on the foothill grounds. It is safe to say that the Baokhungri Festival has become an integral part of the festivities. Around the time when the festival is held, in the month of April, the hill is covered with lush green vegetation.

Scaling the Hill

During the festival, the rather quiet and uninhabited hill is teeming with hundreds of people who trek to the peak, most of whom start early in the morning. In addition to that, various other activities take place at the foothill. This year, the 7th Baokhungri Festival kickstarted on 11th April and continued for three whole days. Now an annual affair, it witnesses participation by people from near and far. A few years back, it was not easy to climb the hill, but now many provisions have been provided to make the climb easier for trekkers.