In a noteworthy milestone, the Karbi Youth Festival (KYF) in Karbi Anglong, Assam, welcomed diplomats from African and Asian countries, unveiling striking cultural similarities between the indigenous communities and those in the diplomats’ home countries.
Representatives from Laos, Malawi, and Myanmar graced the inaugural day of the 50th Karbi Youth Festival, offering an international dimension to the event.
Joseph A Kawinga, the First Secretary (Tourism) at the Malawi High Commission, expressed his astonishment at the parallels in attire, culinary practices, and the use of traditional tools between the Karbi community and Malawians.
“I would have gone back home with a certain degree of bias had I not visited this part of India. Malawi is known as the warm heart of Africa because of the hospitality of the people of our country. The people of Karbi Anglong have the same warmth, and their attire and food are almost the same as ours,” he remarked.
Kawinga suggested that by enhancing tourist-friendly facilities while preserving natural beauty and cultural wealth, Karbi Anglong could become a popular destination for visitors from Malawi and other foreign countries.
Keo Sengdavong, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Lao PDR, also highlighted the cultural parallels between the Karbis and the Laotians.
“India and the Lao PDR have had a very good diplomatic relationship since 1965, with New Delhi helping to redevelop the Angkor Wat temple in our country. Karbi Anglong can promote the cultural affinity for more tourism and business between the two countries,” he emphasized.
Tin Tin Htwe Win, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Myanmar, shared similar observations, noting cultural traits shared by the Karbis with ethnic groups in the western part of Myanmar.
“The two regions (Karbi Anglong and western Myanmar) can benefit from more people-to-people interactions,” she added.
The KYF, the oldest and largest ethnic festival in the Northeast, commenced with traditional sports, folk dances, debates, poem recitations, folk songs, bamboo stilt walking, crafts, and various cultural activities. The festival also featured modern renditions, a Mr KYF contest, and a vibrant Hilton Tisso Cultural Nite showcasing rock bands, concluding the day’s festivities.
The presence of diplomats and their positive experiences highlighted the potential for cultural exchange and strengthened ties between the northeastern region of India and nations abroad.
