Silchar : Anandapur village in Sribhumi district came alive with colour and cultural vibrancy on Saturday as Son Beel Utsav 2.0 commenced, marking a renewed effort to showcase the Barak Valley’s rich ecological wealth and folk traditions on a wider national platform.

Located near the expansive Son Beel wetland, the village wore a festive look, reflecting the growing excitement around the event, which aims to highlight one of the largest wetlands in North East India and its immense ecological and tourism potential.

Conceived as an initiative of Assam University, Silchar, the festival is part of a sustained push to place Son Beel on the national and international tourism map. Building on the success of the inaugural edition held in 2024, this year’s festival has been strengthened with Rabindranath Tagore University, Hojai, joining as a partner institution. The event is being supported by the North Eastern Council (NEC) and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).

According to a release issued by Assam University, the festival was formally inaugurated by former Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha (Retd), Chancellor of the university, who attended the programme as the chief guest.

The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Assam University Vice-Chancellor Prof Rajive Mohan Pant and Rabindranath Tagore University Vice-Chancellor Prof Manabendra Dutta Choudhury, along with senior academicians and administrators, including Assam University Registrar Dr Pradosh Kiran Nath and Rabindranath Tagore University Academic Registrar Dr Sandip Ratna.

Following the inauguration, the festival featured a day-long programme of folk dance and folk music competitions, cultural performances, book releases and prize distribution ceremonies. A mix of local performers and invited artistes presented a wide range of cultural expressions, reflecting the diversity of the Barak Valley.

Speaking on the occasion, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Arup Raha said Son Beel stood out among India’s many wetlands as a “jewel of the North East,” deserving national and global recognition for its biodiversity, cultural vibrancy and tourism potential.

He expressed confidence that the combined efforts of Assam University and Rabindranath Tagore University would help transform Son Beel into a major tourism destination while improving the socio-economic conditions of local communities.

Echoing similar views, Prof Manabendra Dutta Choudhury said Son Beel has the potential to emerge as a key driver of socio-economic development in southern Assam, particularly through sustainable tourism and community-based initiatives.

Prof Rajive Mohan Pant, recalling his first visit to the wetland, described Son Beel as a place of exceptional natural beauty deeply intertwined with local cultural traditions. He said the Son Beel Utsav is an effort to present this unique blend of ecology and heritage to a global audience, positioning the wetland as a symbol of harmony between nature and culture.