Over 10,000 performers are set to bring the Bagurumba dance to life at Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Stadium on Saturday, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Assam. The event, titled Bagurumba Dwhou 2026—with “dwhou” meaning “wave” in Bodo—will celebrate the rich heritage of the Bodo community and mark the first day of the Prime Minister’s visit, his second to the state in less than a month.
Around 8,000 dancers from 81 assembly constituencies across 23 districts are expected to take part, supported by accompanying musicians. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the final rehearsals on Friday evening.
Bagurumba, a nature-inspired folk dance of Assam’s largest indigenous Bodo community, draws inspiration from fluttering butterflies, blooming flowers, birds, and swaying leaves. Traditionally performed by women, with men playing instruments such as kham, serja, sifung, jatha, and japshring, the dance symbolizes the harmony between humans and nature. It is closely associated with festivals like Bwisagu (Bodo New Year) and Domasi, representing peace, fertility, joy, and unity, accompanied by songs in the Bodo language.
The event is being organized by Bodo community groups with support from the state government. Preparations included training 400 master trainers under 25 experts, who then coached local artists. Assam Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Borah stated that the aim is to showcase Bodo culture to a broader national and international audience. The initiative follows previous large-scale displays of Bihu and Jhumoir dances in recent years.
