Boko, Dec 29: The serene Chandubi Lake in Assam’s Kamrup district is set to turn into a vibrant cultural hub as the 16th Chandubi Festival begins on January 1, 2026, ushering in five days of folk traditions, indigenous cuisine, cultural performances and community celebrations.
Organised jointly by the Borduar–Bholagaon Regional Rabha Students’ Union and the Chandubi Festival Celebration Committee under the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) area of South Kamrup, the festival has evolved into one of the region’s most prominent grassroots cultural events.
Celebrated annually since 2010 with the theme “Save Chandubi, Save Heritage,” the festival places strong emphasis on ecological conservation alongside cultural revival.
While it is yet to receive formal government recognition, Chandubi Festival has steadily grown in scale, attracting visitors, artists and researchers from across India and abroad.
Vice-President of the Festival Committee, Pranjal Rabha, said preparations are progressing at full pace. “Work is underway to complete the guest house, entrance gate, main cultural stage and exhibition stalls before December 31. The aim is to present a well-organised festival that reflects both our cultural richness and our responsibility towards nature,” he said.
According to organisers, the festival seeks to preserve the folk traditions of the Rabha and other indigenous communities, promote rural and eco-tourism, and raise awareness about protecting the fragile ecosystem of Chandubi Lake, a natural wetland formed after the 1897 Assam earthquake.
A major highlight of the 2026 edition will be a special tribute to late popular singer Zubeen Garg on the second day of the festival. Organisers announced that a cultural rally will be held in his memory, along with the permanent establishment of a memorial Tongighar (traditional hut) at Chandubi. The memorial will commemorate Garg’s association with the area, including nights he reportedly spent at Chandubi during a film shoot.
The tribute procession is expected to draw large crowds and is likely to be one of the most emotionally significant moments of the festival.
With its blend of natural beauty, cultural diversity and community participation, Chandubi Festival 2026 is expected to further strengthen the lake’s identity as a symbol of heritage conservation and sustainable tourism in Assam.
