Guwahati: The Assam government has invited delegates from Thailand and Myanmar for the forthcoming festival of the Tai Ahoms - the international Me-Dam-Me-Phi celebration - at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra here on January 30 and 31.

In the Tai language, me- dam-me-phi means paying homage to one's forefathers. It is a religious festival of the Tai Ahoms in which prayers are offered for the welfare of all the communities residing in the state.

Assam cultural affairs minister Naba Kumar Doley set up the lai khuta along with officials of the organising committee.

"Since last year, the state government has recognised the Me-Dam-Ma-Phi festival in the state calendar of events and has been providing support in organising the festival on a grand scale. This year, dignitaries from Thailand and Myanmar have been invited to participate in the two-day festival," Doley said.

Lai khuta, meaning first post in the Tai Ahom language, was used as the main support pillar while setting up the pandal for celebrating the festival. However, it serves only a ceremonial purpose now.

The president of the organising committee and Purbanchal Tai Sahitya Sabha, Dayananda Borgohain, said, "This is a festival for all the communities of Assam. Keeping in view the Act East Policy of the government, representatives of several Asean countries have been invited."

"The Ahoms, who ruled Assam for 600 years, started the festival with the objective of uniting all the tribes in the state. By assimilating the cultures of the Moran, Borahi, Kachari, Darangyal and Koch tribes, the Ahoms established a greater Assamese identity that survives till today," said the secretary of the organising committee, Lakhya Konwar.