Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a breathtaking Jhumur dance performance today at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati, Assam, as part of the "Jhumoir Binandini 2025" event. The spectacle, featuring over 8,500 performers from Assam’s tea tribe community, marked the 200th anniversary of the state’s tea industry and aimed to set a world record for the largest Jhumur performance ever staged. The event, which kicked off at 5:30 PM IST, drew an impressive audience, including 60 foreign ambassadors, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The performance showcased 5,399 female dancers, 2,175 male dancers, and 2,074 musicians, who brought to life the rhythmic and soulful traditions of Jhumur—a folk dance originating from the Chotanagpur region and deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Assam’s tea garden workers. Dressed in vibrant red and white attire, the dancers moved in synchronized patterns, accompanied by traditional instruments like the madal, dhol, and bansuri. The songs, blending Assamese with native languages such as Nagpuri and Khortha, echoed the community’s resilience and history.
PM Modi, welcomed with traditional honors by CM Sarma, expressed his admiration for the event, calling it a “visual symphony” that merged “history, culture, and emotion.” Reflecting on his own journey as a "chaiwala" (tea seller), he remarked, “No one understands the aroma of tea and Jhumur better than a chaiwala,” drawing cheers from the crowd. He urged people across India to explore the tea tribes’ heritage, hailing the performance as a monumental step in showcasing Assam’s cultural richness to the world.
The event doubled as the curtain-raiser for the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit, aimed at boosting investment and cultural tourism in the state. With global dignitaries in attendance, it underscored Assam’s growing prominence on the international stage. The evening concluded with a stunning laser show and fireworks, leaving the audience spellbound. As Assam celebrates this milestone, the Jhumur performance stands as a powerful tribute to the tea tribes’ enduring legacy and a beacon of cultural pride.
Pic credit PTI