Hundreds of artists play sitar to promote peace in Guwahati

Guwahati, Jan 11 (ANI): Hundreds of artists came together for a musical rendition to promote peace in Assam on Sunday.

The artists played sitar, a stringed instrument, accompanied by tabla, an Indian percussion instrument.

Guwahati-based musical institution Talim organized the programme.

Santosh Maheshwari, a resident said that the programme was organized to promote brotherhood and unity among the people.

"In today's time the people don't have time for music as there is so much terrorist violence. Therefore in order to promote brotherhood and unity among the people we have organized this programme," said Maheshwari.

Rashmi, a participant, said: "Sitar which is our traditional instrument we felt very good on hearing it and we felt Indian."

More than a dozen separatist outfits, including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) are active in the region.

More than 20,000 people have been killed since the ULFA took up arms in 1979, accusing the central government of taking the state's rich forest and mineral resources and giving back nothing in return. (ANI)