Our Correspondent
Diphu, Jan. 5 (EMN): ‘Rongker’ an annual sacred function of the Karbi community was observed across Karbi Anglong on Fri. Jan. 5.
Functions on a grand scale were held in almost all the Karbi villages across the district to celebrate the occasion.
The ritual is observed in the beginning of the year for peace and prosperity in the village. Kurusar (priest) perform prayers and offer animal sacrifices to appease the Karbi deities and seek their blessings for the welfare of the village and its protection from any evil entities and natural calamities. The community believes that non-observance of the ritual will invite misfortune upon the village and its inhabitants.
Like, every year in Rongmonjir village, Diphu the village headman Chondro Terang also a Kurusar for the occasion initiated the religious ceremony in the presence of the villagers. The ritual was performed in other villages of Diphu including villages on Bey, Arlong Sangti , Rongchingri, and others.
Members of other communities were also seen participating in the celebration of their fellow brothers thus adding more merriment and strengthening the bonds of brotherhood.
However, a few power hungry and egocentric politicians in power have off late created confusion among the people of the community regarding the event date.
ASDC during the helm of affairs in KAAC had fixed January 5 for observing Rongker.
However, the subsequent Congress government changed it for Feb. 5 leaving the common people in disarray. Some villages have since then started observing the festival on the newly announced date whereas some stuck on to the earlier declared date every year.
People are of the view that a common date should be fixed after proper discussion among the religious, political, social, students leaders and the common people.
