Kamrup admin allows boat races on Brahmaputra

GUWAHATI: Amid pressure from organizers of traditional boat races, which are held in Kamrup on Dashami, the civil administration allowed three races on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries in the district on Friday.
People of the Kukurmara, Satpur and Sadilapur localities of the district, which see large crowds on account of the boat races on Dashami, were caught in a bind after the administration issued prohibitory orders on boat races on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries after a boat capsized in Chhaygaon a few weeks ago.
Organizers of the boat races, however, continued to approach the Kamrup administration till it finally agreed to allow boat races.
Among the three locations, Kukurmara witnessed the highest turnout as thousands of people thronged the banks of the Kolohi, about 40 km from Guwahati city, to catch a glimpse of their favourite boats surging ahead.
According to residents of Kukurmara, boats have raced up and down the river for the last 1,000 years or so. "For decades, the enthusiasm has remained the same. Boat race is a show of strength and power. Hopefully, races will become more popular in the coming years with the patronage and support of the administration," said a member of the organizing committee.
In Satpur, tribal villagers turned up in large numbers to see a boat race on the Batha river. Keshab Rabha, a local, urged the administration to extend support to boat races which have become an annual extravaganza in the area and attract tourists.
"There should be joint effort on the part of the government and the people to popularize the sport. The new generation is not interested in participating in traditional boat races as other sports are making an entry in the villages. But they are still attached to the event. Boat race is a heritage of Kamrup. It can become more popular if the prize money is increased and other facilities are given to the racers throughout the year," Rabha said.