A cultural workshop on Mech (Bodo) Kachari Traditional Songs & Music was successfully held at the Kushiabill Kachari Community Hall, organized by the Late Mech Kachari School of Kachari Traditional Music in collaboration with Gyanswrang Fwrai Shali, Kushiabill. The workshop was themed “Gwrlwi Denkhwni Swdwbfwrkhwo Bujinai” (Understanding Simple Terms of Music) and brought together community elders, youth, and cultural leaders for a day of learning, sharing, and cultural celebration.

The workshop was mentored by Gopen Mech, a respected figure in the preservation of Mech (Bodo) musical traditions. In his keynote, Gopen Mech stressed the importance of cultural education:

“Traditional music is not just entertainment; it is our identity, our language, and our history. We must protect and pass it on,” he said.

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Prominent community leaders and cultural figures who graced the event included Subash Mech, Head Gaonbura, Kushiabill; Phungkha Basumatary, Cultural Secretary, KTCN; Uttam Brahma Community leader from Naharbari, Cultural pioneers from Gyanswrang Fwrai Shali, known for their continued efforts in promoting traditional Bodo music and culture.

More than 40 participants, including children, youth, and cultural enthusiasts, took part in engaging sessions on traditional instruments like the kham (drum), sifung (flute) and serja (stringed instrument), group singing exercises, and interactive discussions on song structure, rhythm, timing and musical scales. Elders guided the youth through hands-on learning, creating a valuable intergenerational cultural bridge.

The event concluded with group performances of Mech (Bodo) folk songs and a collective pledge to carry forward the legacy of their ancestors through music and education.

Organizers expressed their wish to continue such initiatives in other villages to further strengthen cultural roots and youth involvement in the Mech (Bodo) community.