The first and foremost identity of Lumding is the N.F.Railway. Its the largest junction of the N.F.Railway. Though very few people know about Lumding even who are staying in Assam. I was lucky to spend the first 21 years of my life in that tiny hilly railway town. My parents are still there and every year I visit Lumding.
Its a beautiful gift of nature and we should strive to preserve the natural beauty of Lumding. I did my schooling from the scenic Railway Higher Secondary School. The school is surrounded by hillock on one side and railway station on the other side. I still remember the days of school when we used to see the steam engines plying on the railway tracks. Now steam engines are considered as antiques. I feel myself lucky to be the witness of something which is now considered as antique.
Wherever you go in Lumding N.F.Railway will follow you in every step. The railway colonies spread across the entire town its a wonder in itself. The blue hills surrounding the township is just a soothing experience to the eyes.
People of Lumding are an example of the integrity in diversity. You can find people from every part of the country staying there, though its not a industrial hub or a metropoly. Lumding College boasts to have someone from Kerala as the HOD in English, Mathematics faculty has someone related to Bihar among the much uniqueness.
Lumding celebrates Durga Puja when all the Bengalies celebrate all across the world. Also Bihu, the festival of Assam, is celebrated along with the rest of the Assam with great joy and togetherness. Apart from these festivals Lumding has its own unique festival, the Shitala puja. Though many Shitala temples are there, the one at Nadir par is the biggest of all. Throughout the year some or the other festival can be found at Lumding. Following are the few of them according to Bengali calender:
- Baisakh : Nababarsha, Bihu
- Jayishtha : Shitala puja throughout Lumding
- Ashar : Ratha Yatra
- Sravan : Throughout the month there will be Manasa puthi path and at the culmination of the month there will be Manasa puja
- Bhadra : Bishwakarma Puja
- Ashwin : Durga Puja, the biggest festival of Lumding
- Kartik : Kartik puja, kali puja.
- Agrahayan : Jagadhatri puja
- Paus : at the end of Paus month Paus sankranti is celebrated.
- Magh : Saraswati puja
- Falgul : This is the only month where I am not finding any puja.
- Chaitra : Basanti puja, Charak puja. Most of the time Nadir par Shitala puja falls on this month.
So much of festivity is always there at Lumding. But the outer world knows very little about Lumding. Its my attempt to take Lumding to the world through this wonderful medium.