Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday evening took part in the ceremonial celebration of Kati Bihu festival at Mangaldai of Darrang district.
The festival was organised for the first time by the Assam government and the Darang district administration.
The chief minister as the chief guest of the programme lit the ceremonial lamp in a traditional manner on the occasion in the huge green paddy field called Monpur Pothar of Bamunpara near Mangaldai town.
Immediately after the chief minister lit the lamp the paddy field was illuminated with several hundreds of traditional lamps which were kept ready.
The lighting of lamps was followed by lighting traditional ‘Akash Banti’.
Speaking on the occasion, Assam chief minister Sonowal offered Kati Bihu greetings to all the people of the state, including the farmers’ community and highlighted the role of the present BJP-led government both at the state and the Centre.
The chief minister was also accompanied by Assam BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass.
Assam irrigation minister Bhabesh Kalita, Mangaldai MP and the BJP’s national general secretary Dilip Saikia, Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) chairman Jayanta Malla Baruah and both the BJP legislators in the district, Gurujyoti Das and Binanda Kr Saikia were also present at the event.