Sribhumi: Sribhumi turned bright and cheerful as the Barak Festival and NEIR 2026 unfolded with colour, music, and deep emotion. From early hours till late evening, the town stayed alive with songs, dances, and happy faces. People from all communities gathered at one place. They sat side by side.

They clapped in the same rhythm. Culture became the common language. The feeling was simple yet powerful. The festival was formally inaugurated by lighting the ceremonial lamp by former MP Mission Ranjan Das.

Speaking as the chief guest, he said only art and culture have the power to bring true brotherhood among people.

He spoke about the Northeast, often called the land of the “seven sisters”. He highlighted its natural beauty, rich diversity of communities, languages, and traditions.

He said the Barak Festival plays a strong role in deepening the bond of harmony through cultural exchange. He praised KRC Foundation for taking such a meaningful initiative and expressed hope that the festival would be organised on a much larger scale in the coming years.

The stage came alive with one performance after another. Loko Sangeet filled the air with folk tunes rooted in the soil. Baul songs touched the soul.

Solo songs were presented by both regular and differently-abled artistes, proving that music knows no barriers. Each voice carried emotion and honesty. Chorus songs by cultural groups created a strong wave of sound and unity.

Dance items added colour and rhythm to the evening. Solo dances spoke without words. Chorus dances brought energy and joy. Traditional forms like Dhamail spread a feeling of sisterhood. Manipuri dance flowed with grace and calm.

Bihu dance brought festive Assam to the stage. Bamboo dance amazed the audience with sharp timing and balance. Hajagiri and Jhumur dances reflected tribal life and joy. Every performance represented a community. Together, they reflected the shared soul of Barak Valley and the Northeast.

Children played a key role in the festival. Their confident steps and innocent smiles filled the ground with hope. Parents watched with pride. Elders watched with calm happiness. For a while, daily worries faded away.

One of the most touching moments came when differently-abled artistes performed. Their courage and talent moved everyone present. The audience stood up and applauded. Many eyes turned moist. It was a strong reminder that art belongs to everyone.

KRC Foundation’s Managing Trustee and CEO Biswadeep Gupta was present along with many dignitaries.

Among the speakers were Sribhumi Municipal Board Chairman Rabindra Chandra Deb, former chairman Mission Ranjan Das, former principal of Rabindra Sadan Women’s College Dr Sharmistha Khajanchi, Krishna Das, Subrata Choudhury, Siddhartha Sekhar Pal Choudhury, Anjan Goswami, Dr Poulomi Chanda, and others. The meeting was presided over by Ashit Dutta.

On behalf of the organising committee, Amar Krishna Saha and Mrityunjay Chakraborty honoured the guests with traditional scarves, mementoes, and saplings, sending a message of respect and sustainability.

The cultural segment featured performances by Khushi Cultural Organisation in the opening song. Solo songs were presented by differently-abled artiste Shubhashree Nath, Sushmita Chakraborty, Bandana Das, Ritotopa Chakraborty, and Bapi Das.

Group songs were presented by Samanway Sangeet Vidyalaya and Saptasur Cultural Organisation. Solo dance was performed by differently-abled dancer Kanchana Roy. Dhamail dance came from Geetbitaan Sangeet Vidyalaya. Manipuri dance was presented by Adarsha Vidyalaya, Baithakhal, Patharkandi.

Hajagiri dance came from Yogasan Training Centre, Sribhumi. Jhumur dance was presented by Bishwa Beena Cultural Organisation. Bamboo dance was performed by Nupur Nrityalaya. Bihu dance came from Nrityashree Kalaniketan. Baul songs were presented by Sribhumi Loko Sangeet Kala Kendra. The programme was smoothly conducted by anchor Shrabani Pal.

Speakers throughout the evening praised the organisers. They called the Barak Festival and NEIR a noble initiative. Not just an event, but a movement to connect people beyond language, religion, and region.
As the lights dimmed and the programme ended, people were still talking about the performances. Some hummed the songs. Some discussed the dances.

Many wished the festival would return soon. Barak Festival and NEIR 2026 did more than entertain. It brought hearts closer and reminded everyone that culture is the strongest bridge between people.

Promotional | North East Integration Rally