Jatinga fights tourism jinx(SARAT SARMA)

Nagaon, Aug. 21: Dima Hasao is hoping to solve its tourism jinx with the famed Jatinga puzzle.

The district is planning a Jatinga festival from October 28, hoping to lure tourists to the district with the promise of the “supernatural” bird suicide mystery. Every winter, thousands of migratory birds fly to Jatinga and caught in the crosswinds were believed to “commit suicide”.

Though ecologists stripped the phenomenon of its paranormal aura and explained how the clueless creatures simply get distracted by the bonfires lit by tribal villagers and fall into their ingenious trap, the district is doing everything to turn it into a tourism booster.

Jatinga had long been marketed as this awe-inspiring must-visit for tourists to Dima Hasao (formerly North Cachar Hills) — with a bird-twist to the Bermuda Triangle story.

And the villagers did all they could to accentuate this “mystery”. They insisted that this “phenomenon” occurred only on moonless nights when the winds blew in a southwesterly direction and was followed by either dense fog or drizzle.

The administration now wants to throw in a few more attractions and turn the phenomenon into an event. The three-day festival will also have an exhibition showcasing traditional handicrafts and a cultural programme.

On its part, the administration is promising a “fear free” environment in a district scarred by insurgency.

“Since long our district hit the headline for wrong reasons. We want to establish that unlike militancy and Rs 1,000 crore scam we have a lot to establish our motherland before outsiders. We want to restore the district’s lost fame,” said organising committee general secretary Kulendra Daulogupu.

“Main problems include lack of security, lack of accommodation and bad communication. Tourists will stay with local people and will be able to enjoy traditional cuisine,” said organising committee chairman and local Jatinga council member Moril Massa.