Dhemaji: The weeklong golden jubilee celebrations of Essi Rite Upper Primary School in West Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, coincided with the first edition of Jee River Festival, an initiative of Kego Jilen, an alumnus of the school and the lone Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission officer from the district.
The event, organised by Gumin Rego Welfare Society in Tirbin circle, got off to a flying start on Thursday.
Last month, Jilen, an additional deputy commissioner of Hayuliang sub-divisional headquarters of East Kameng district, shared his idea of organising the festival to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of his alma mater with the school authorities.
The school, located on the right bank of the Jee, is a centre of elementary education. It has produced many stalwarts from the rural region for the past five decades.
Parliamentary secretary and Basar MLA Gojen Gadi was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony. He praised the organisers for holding the event through community participation, without any assistance from the government. Gadi assured them of extending all cooperation in any such festivities in future.
The guest of honour and deputy director of secondary education of Lower Siang district, Pakgi Koyu Lombi, said all schools of the district would be revamped and rigorous inspections conducted.
Emotions ran high as former students got together after years and reminisced on the years of their growing up at their alma mater.
Teachers, students and alumni of the school, who were felicitated on the occasion, shared their experiences and memories about the institute.
Several floating houses were set up on the Jee, along with tents along its banks. Beach volleyball, a football tournament, river rafting, angling and food stalls were also organised at the festival venue.
