Guwahati: A four-day Gauhati University inter-college youth festival kicked off on the university campus here on Saturday with the message of maintaining unity in the time of NRC update.

"At a time when the final list of the National Register of Citizens is under process in the state, we urge all to maintain unity. Rumours are everywhere and it is very important to keep calm and maintain peace. We have used recycled waste products for decoration, extending a message of plastic-free environment," Gauhati University Post Graduate Students' Union general secretary Monjit Sharma said.

AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharjya, who was a guest at the inaugural programme, said, "We must take a pledge to be aware of all the attempts of political or non-political organisations to divide our society on the basis of religion, caste, culture and communities."

The youth fest started with a colourful cultural rally.

"The fest will witness around 700 participants from 63 GU-affiliated colleges this year. We have invited Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi, a litterateur from Arunachal Pradesh, as the chief guest during the prize distribution ceremony on Tuesday," Sharma said.

The participants will take part in 35 events under music, cultural, literary and fine arts categories.

Asom Sahitya Sabha president Paramananda Rajbongshi inaugurated the cultural rally and spoke about the significance of August 25, when the Asomiya Bhasha Unnati Sadhini Sabha (Assamese language development society), the precursor of Asom Sahitya Sabha, was formed.