President Pranab Mukherjee to inaugurate `Namami Brahmaputra` in Assam today

`Namami Brahmaputra` will take place across 21 districts of Assam from March 31 to April 4.

Guwahati: `Namami Brahmaputra`, the biggest ever river festival in India, will be held in Assam on Friday.

The festival will take place across 21 districts of Assam from March 31 to April 4.

President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the festival on the banks of the river, which is considered country`s only male river. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is expected to be present on April 2.

Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Arunachal Pradesh Governor PB Acharya and Chief Ministers of the states will also attend the inaugural ceremony.

Various cultural programmes, traditional sports, Brahmaputra Aarti, exhibition, film shows, seminars, and competitions will be the part of the five-day festival.

Other prominent guests who have confirmed their participation during the festival include Union Ministers Uma Bharati, Nitin Gadkari, and Mahesh Sharma.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev is likely to arrive on April 4 for the concluding function, the officials said.

"The basic objective of the five-day long festival is to showcase trade and commerce, culture, skill, industry and tourism of Assam to the world, while the festival is to exhibit the music, arts, craft, sports, livelihood and overall way of life of the people of Assam," Commissioner of Guwahati Police Hiren Nath had said earlier this week.

"Over 40 VVIPs are likely to arrive here for the five-day long festival. Security is an issue and we are taking utmost care to ensure proper security at the festival," he said.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has already released the theme song of Namami Brahmaputra.

Guwahati has got a new look for the festival. Big banners and hoardings have been put up across the city welcoming all to the event.

This festival is likely to give a boost to the investment and tourism prospect in the state.

(With Agency inputs)