Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the first Bodoland Mahotsav at the SAI Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi. Addressing a vibrant gathering on the occasion, he lauded the Bodo Peace Accord signed in 2020, saying that it paved way for other peace accords not just in Assam but across the Northeast. He also urged the youth who have joined the extremist groups to take inspiration from the peaceful Bodo community. 






The two-day Bodoland Mahotsav is a mega event on language, literature, and culture to sustain peace and build a Vibrant Bodo Society. It aims to integrate the Indigenous Bodo people residing not only in Bodoland but other parts of Assam, West Bengal, Nepal and international border areas of the Northeast.


The theme for the mahotsav is 'Peace and Harmony for Prosperous Bharat' focusing on the rich culture, language, and education of the Bodo community along with other communities from the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).


During the mahostav, people from the Bodo community performed Bagurumba-- a traditional folk dance perfomed by the Bodo people of Assam and Northeast.






Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the Mahotsav virtually. During the event PM Modi also tried his hands on Sarinda-- a stringed musical instrument used by the Bodo community of Assam. 






Here are the top highlights of the PM's address at the first Bodoland Festival:




  • PM Modi recalled his visit to Kokrajhar after the Bodo Peace Accord was signed in 2020, expressing gratitude for being treated by the Bodo community like one of their own.


    "I don't know if people sitting in Delhi know the importance of these things. And this has not happened just like that... you all have created a new history today by untying every knot very patiently. My Bodo brothers and sisters, in the year 2020, I got the opportunity to visit Kokrajhar after the Bodo Peace Accord, the love and affection you gave me there, tt felt like you treated me as one of your own, he said.





  • "You cannot imagine how emotional this moment is for me. Maybe, these people sitting in air-conditioned rooms in Delhi, those who give different kinds of theories have no idea how big this opportunity is. 50 years of bloodshed, violence  for 50 years, youths of three-four generations lost their lives to this violence... after so many decades, Bodo is celebrating a festival today," he said. 




  • He further spoke about how thousands of youths surrendered their arms and gave up on violence to instead opt for peace.

    "Due to peace accords, more than 10,000 youths gave up arms and violence in Assam alone, and they joined the mainstream. No one would have imagined that the Karbi Anglong peace pact, Bru-Reang agreement and NLFT Tripura agreement would become a reality," he said.

    "I am happy that the youth who were holding guns a few years ago are now moving ahead in the field of sports.  The holding of two editions of the Durand Cup in Kokrajhar and the arrival of teams from Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan is historic in itself," the PM added.




  •  The PM reiterated his vision for the Northeast, calling Assam and the North East "India's Ashta Lakshmi". He said the country's sun of development would rise from the Northeast, stating it as the reason behind the government's efforts to maintain peace in the region.  

    "For me, the entire North-East including Assam is the Ashtalakshmi of India. Now the sun of development will rise from Eastern India, which will give new energy to the resolve of developed India. That is why we are continuously working for lasting peace in the North-East. We are seeking amicable solutions to the border disputes of the North-Eastern states."




  • PM Modi highlighted the development in the Bodoland Territorial Region since the peace accord was signed. He spoke about the Centre's Rs 1500 crore package and the other significant investments made by the Assam government to speed up development in the region. "We are making steady efforts for lasting peace in NortHeast,"he said.

    "The Central Government has given a special package of Rs 1,500 crore for the development of Bodoland.  Assam government has also given a special development package.  More than Rs 700 crore has been spent to develop infrastructure related to education, health and culture in Bodoland," he stressed.




  • Underscoring how Bodoland's identity is emerging as a tourism spot due to Manas International Park, he said that the dense forests which were once a hideout have now transformed into a place of opportunity for the youth. 


  • "In the last four years, the development of Bodoland has been very important. After the signing of the Peace Accord, Bodoland has witnessed a wave of development.  I feel very satisfied after looking at the positive and encouraging results of the Peace Accord."




  • "The Bodo Peace Accord hasn't just benefitted you, it has opened new avenues for many more peace accords. Had it remained on papers only, others wouldn't have trusted me. However, you imbibed the accord in your lives."


  • "Results can never be brought through bombs, guns, pistols; Bodo community has shown the way".