Kokrajhar celebrates Durand hattrick in style

Kokrajhar, July 27, 2025: The 134^th IndianOil Durand Cup bandwagon reached Kokrajhar on Sunday (July 27, 2025), making the city’s SAI stadium, hosts of the prestigious century old tournament for the third successive year. Present during the grand opening ceremony celebrations ahead of kick-off of the first Group D game between Assam’s Morning Star FC and ITBP FT were the Hon’ble Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Shri. Pramod Boro who was Chief Guest, and Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command and Patron, Durand Cup Organising Committee (DCOC), among other dignitaries. Celebrations began three hours before kick-off building up the festive fervour among the city’s passionate fans and comprised thrilling military displays sprinkled with local and national musical and cultural performances.

Also gracing the celebrations were Dasho Dr. Lotay Tshering, the Hon’ble former Prime Minister of Bhutan who was the Guest of Honour and India’s football legend, captain and talisman, Sunil Chhetri.

The state and the Bodoland region’s political leadership was represented among others by Shri. Urkhao Gwra Brahma, Hon’ble Minister for Handloom, Textile and Sericulture, Soil Conservation and Welfare of Bodoland Department, Govt. of Assam, Shri. Rwngwra Narzary, member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and Shri. Joyanta Basumatary, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha.

Representing the Armed Forces leadership was Lt. Gen. Gambhir Singh, AVSM, YSM GOC 4 Corps, Major Gen Rajesh Arun Moghe, VSM GOC, Bengal Sub Area & Vice Chairman, DCOC, Maj. Gen. Rohin Bawa, YSM GOC 21Mountain and Brig. Akshay Kapoor, Commander 107 Mountain Brigade.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri. Pramod Boro said, “We are writing a new story where football has taken the role of harmony in Kokrajhar. We have given the youth a platform through football to give them more confidence to move ahead in life. Football has united our villages and has given a path to move forward. Sports has a played a huge role in eliminating violence from Bodoland. I am thankful to the Indian Armed Forces on behalf of the people of Bodoland by bringing the Durand Cup to Bodoland Territorial Region for the third consecutive time. I also thank all the people of organising committee, SAI and everyone else involved for working towards a successful Durand Cup.”

Sunil Chhetri motivated the crowd by saying, “I hope that everyone realises that whatever you want to dream in sports, it is not too far. Nothing changes or galvanizes a place better than sports and football is the best sport in the country to do that and I urge everyone to make use of the facilities that are provided. I thank the people of Bodoland for all the warmth and I wish everyone the best of luck.”

The celebrations began with a DJ playing music to charge up the slowly gathering crowd and a Hot Air Balloon display to mesmerize them further.

The musical soiree continued with performances from the Pipe Band and Maj. Yogesh Adhikari, followed by a Punjabi Bhangra dance performance.

An exciting Dog Show then enthralled audiences in between a wonderful fusion performance by a Pipe and Jazz band and a rendition of Badluram ka Badan, a regimental song of the Assam Regiment which was created as an ode to World War II martyr Rifleman Badluram, by Major M.T. Prokto

Then Joi Baruah and Band entertained with their performances on both sides of the arrival of dignitaries, felicitation of the Guests of Honour and the playing of the video of the Hon’ble President of India unveiling the Durand Cup Trophies in Delhi on July 4^th.

A Brass Band display performance then preceded the keynote address delivered by the Shri. Pramod Boro and the motivating speech delivered by the great Sunil Chhetri.

A display of the culture of the State of Assam followed as Bagurumba, Bihu, Bardwi Sikhla & Dahal Thungri performances reverberated across the SAI stadium. Concurrently there was also an Aeromodel display and a display by the Indian Army’s Paramotor Team comprising pilots from the 10 PARA Special Forces who showcased a spectacular fly past.

Artist Geeta Shri then send the crowd into raptures with a performance of the famous Waka Waka song, an anthem for football celebrations around the world. The military was also not to be left behind in cultural performances as the Gorkha regiment then displayed their famous skills with the deadly Khukri.

The ceremony was then left spellbound as the Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter jets performed a fly past over the stadium. The final two cultural performances involved Chenda Drummers alongside Kalaripayattu, a Kerala martial art display performed by the 21^st Battalion D Madras Regiment and a Chau Dance performance by artists from West Bengal.

A Trophy drill and a brief on the Durand Trophies was then given and the Durand theme video played, before the players lined up on the pitch to a fly past by Army Aviation Heptrs. The Chief Guest was introduced to the players and he exchanged greetings with both teams and the match officials before a ceremonial kick of the football by Shri. Boro formally opened the Kokrajhar Durand Cup leg of 2025.

Joi Baruah and Band returned to entertain audiences during the half-time break once again, which also saw an Indian Army promotional video aired and a cultural programme by the state, keeping fans happily engaged.

Apart from the two debutants on show on Sunday, local hot favourites Bodoland FC and ISL side Punjab FC are the two other sides in Group D. A total of seven matches including one knock-out game is scheduled at the SAI stadium this year and all matches are expected to see a full house in the football crazy city.