Digboi: The historic oil town of Digboi in Assam is set to come alive with colour, culture and creative energy as Digboi Mahotsav–2026 is scheduled to be held from January 25 to February 1 at the Digboi Refinery Ground.
Conceived as a grand celebration of Assam’s cultural richness, the festival will host a series of All-Assam–level competitions, performances and intellectual engagements, drawing participants from across the state.
The festival is being organised for the first time by Prayas, a government-registered voluntary organisation working in the fields of social, cultural, educational and sports development, in association with Zubeen Garg Anuragi Mancha, Digboi.
With a total prize pool of Rs 1 lakh, the initiative aims to encourage artistic excellence while strengthening Digboi’s cultural footprint.
The competitive segment of the Mahotsav will begin on January 25 at 2.30 pm with a Drawing Competition for school students. The competition will be conducted in three categories—Pre-Primary to Class II, Class III to Class VI, and Class VII to Class X. Participants will be provided with paper only, and the theme will be announced on the spot.
On January 26 at 11.00 am, the festival will host an All-Assam Debate Competition on the motion: “In the opinion of the House, social media helps to improve mutual relationships among people.”
Each team will consist of two speakers—one speaking for and one against the motion—with four minutes allotted to each participant. The debate will be conducted in Assamese and English and will be open to the public.
Devotional fervour will take centre stage on January 28 at 2.00 pm with the All-Assam Diha Naam Competition, open to all. Each team may include up to 12 members, including musicians, and the performance duration will be 12 minutes.
The musical legacy of Assam will be celebrated on January 30, beginning with the Late Anand Dutta Memorial All-Assam Bhupen Hazarika Song Competition at 1.00 pm, followed by the Late Bikash Gogoi Memorial All-Assam Zubeen Garg Song Competition at 2.00 pm.
Both competitions will be held in two categories—Category A (up to Class IX) and Category B (Class X and above). Performances may be rendered in Assamese, Bengali or Hindi, with a maximum duration of seven minutes.
The festival will also highlight Assam’s classical theatrical heritage with the All-Assam Bhaona Dialogue Competition scheduled for January 31 at 2.00 pm. Contestants will perform dialogues through acting and singing within three minutes, dressed in Vaishnavite or national attire.
Speaking on the broader vision of the festival, Jiten Dutta, president of the Organising Committee, said that Digboi is a serene oil town endowed with immense historical and natural significance. He noted that Digboi is home to Asia’s oldest oil refinery and is surrounded by several tourist destinations.
Emphasising the need to position Digboi prominently on the tourism map, Dutta said the town is a heritage destination and concerted efforts must be made to attract foreign tourists.
He added that cultural festivals such as Digboi Mahotsav play a vital role in showcasing the town’s beauty, heritage and cultural vibrancy beyond the region.