Kokrajhar, April 8: The five-day Baokhungri festival will begin at Baukhungri hill, 10km east of Kokrajhar town, with some exciting new additions on Wednesday.
The Bodos traditionally celebrate the festival as Baokhungri Hajw Gakhwnai (climbing of Baokhungri hill).
This year, the BTC tourism department will introduce various adventure sport like paragliding, along with ethnic food and games, to attract tourists.
BTC secretary Prafulla Hazowary said the council would organise the festival to preserve the age-old tradition of trekking and to promote tourism.
An ethnic food festival and indigenous games like khomlainai, batha gelanai and gila gelenai will be the major attractions of the event.
Cock fights will be another highlight of the festival, with around 64 pairs of birds.
The organisers have ensured that none of the birds get hurt in the fights.
Usually, sharp blades are tied to the birds to inflict maximum damage during such fights.
“Cash prizes will be given to the best participants in trekking and other competitions,” Hazowary said.
J.K. Brahma, director-cum-council head of department, tourism, said they had successfully tried out parag-liding at Dangdhupur hill, 5km from Baokhungri hill and around 15km from Kokrajhar town. The Sikkim Paragliding Adventure Sports Co-operative Society Ltd conducted the exercise to ensure the feasibility of paragliding and adventure tourism in the area.
The local residents have always thronged and climbed Baokhungri hill, in the vicinity of the Kokrajhar town, as a tradition on sankranti.
The people generally spend the day trekking up the hill in the midst of nature.
At 1,491 feet above sea level, Baokhungri peak lies within the Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary, a home to the endangered golden langur and other wild animals.
According to legends, the Bodos believe that the Baokhungri hill is the sacred dwelling of Sibrai (lord Shiva) and a number of other deities.
Hence they climb the peak to revere the gods. From the hilltop, there is a beautiful view of the Deeplai beel and part of Dheer beel.
The lower reaches are covered with magnificent sal and semi-evergreen trees, making it an ideal getaway.