Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the "Bagurumba Dwhou 2026" in Guwahati, Assam, a Bodo cultural program aimed at showcasing Assam's culture on a global stage. The event, held at the Sarusajai Stadium, featured a synchronized performance of the Bagurumba dance by over 10,000 artists from across Assam.
The Bagurumba dance, deeply inspired by nature, symbolizes peace and harmony. It reflects the harmony between human life and the natural world, with gentle, flowing movements imitating butterflies, birds, leaves, and flowers. The dance holds cultural significance, representing peace, fertility, joy, and collective harmony, and is closely associated with festivals such as Bwisagu, the Bodo New Year, and Domasi. U G Brahma, Assam minister, has called for wider global recognition of Bagurumba, emphasizing its representation of joy, renewal, and gratitude toward nature.
Speaking ahead of the program, Modi affirmed that the event celebrates Bodo culture and reflects the government's commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of the community. He added that the NDA governments at the Centre and in Assam are working to realize the vision of Bodofa Upendranath Brahma, the revered Bodo leader.
Artists representing 81 Legislative Assembly constituencies from 23 districts across Assam participated in the event. Each participating Bagurumba dancer will receive Rs 25,000, while master trainers and instructors will receive Rs 50,000 in recognition of their efforts. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the final rehearsal for the event and said that Assam is ready to present the Bagurumba dance on the world stage. He also stated that the government is committed to promoting indigenous art forms and ensuring that traditional cultural expressions receive national and global visibility.
The Prime Minister also tried his hand at playing the Serja, a traditional Bodo musical instrument. The Guwahati presentation of Bagurumba Dwhou incorporated the word 'dwhou', meaning wave in the Bodo language, and was accompanied by Bodo songs and traditional instruments such as kham, serja, sifung, jatha and japshring.
The day after the Bagurumba Dwhou, the Prime Minister is scheduled to perform the Bhoomi Pujan for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project in Kaliabor, Nagaon district, worth over Rs 6,950 crore. He will also flag off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains. The Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project involves the four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of National Highway-715 and includes a 35-km elevated wildlife corridor passing through Kaziranga National Park. The project aims to ensure uninterrupted movement of animals, reduce human-wildlife conflict, enhance road safety, cut travel time and lower accident rates.
Modi's visit underscores a broader effort to integrate the Northeast into the national narrative, emphasizing cultural dignity and political stability. The focus on culture and infrastructure signals a conscious attempt by New Delhi to engage with the Northeast as a participant in the national story.
