RSS rally in Guwahati LIVE updates: Sangh volunteers to sing 'Luitporia Hindu ami' song at Khanapara ground

Many prominent leaders to be part of event

Eminent politicians, heads of village bodies, 20 titular tribal kings — from the Karbi, Naga, Khasi, Hajong, Tiwa, Garo, Jayantiya, Mising and Hajong communities — and more than 10 chiefs of different satras of Assam will be among the dignitaries attending the rally. (Satras stand for institutional centres associated with Vaishnavism, a sect in Hinduism)

Chandrani Sinha, 101 Reporters

RSS has taken up initiative to secure Hindu culture

King of Mayong, a village near Guwahati that is known for black magic and sorcery, Tarani Singha says, "RSS and its affiliates have taken up the initiative to secure the Hindu culture. Hindutva should be protected, and that is why I came here to understand more about their mission and vision"

Chandrani Sinha, 101reporters

BJP MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa impressed with preparations

Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, BJP MP said, "Very impressed with the preparations for the event. An event of this scale has never happened before here, and I doubt it will happen again. It is high time the concept of Hinduism is reinforced in Hindustan."

All bigwigs of RSS likely to attend rally

Sunday's rally, being organised in coordination with Luitporiya Hindu Sammelan, is an ambitious programme which was being planned since two years. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and senior leaders such as joint general secretary V Bhagaiah, Krishna Gopal Sharma and Dattatreya Hosabole will speak at the rally. Other national leaders such as Akhil Bharatiya Sharirik Pramukh in-charge Sunil Kulkarni and Saha Sampark Pramukh (public relations chief) Sunil Deshpandey will also be present. The programme is scheduled to begin with the 35,000-strong volunteer force singing 'Ami Luit Poriya Hindu' (we're Hindus of Brahmaputra valley).

Chandrani Sinha, 101 Reporters

RSS volunteers have begun to gather in Guwahati

In the video, one can hear in the background: "RSS karyakartas from both sides of brahmaputra river have assembled together. We wish to conduct our service sincerely and dedicatedly with order and discipline."

Urmi Bhattacharjee, 101 Reporters

Last-minute preparations underway

Swayamsevaks are also being asked to refrain from using mobile phones until the end of the ceremony in Guwahati. 

The heat forcing many to bury their faces!

Swayamsevaks being asked to take their respective positions and be ready for the drill as the dignitaries have started coming in

Urmi Bhattacharjee, 101 Reporters

Members of RSS band arrive at location

RSS to broadcast event through social media

The RSS will be broadcasting Mohan Bhagwat's speech LIVE through its official account on Facebook as well as Twitter. 

Women volunteers gearing up for event

Urmi Bhattacharjee, 101reporters

RSS volunteers outside the venue

Visual from the RSS rally in Guwahati

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Chandrani Sinha, 101 Reporters

RSS Assam spokesperson Sankar Das says physical exercises will go on until RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat arrives at 1.00pm

Chandrani Sinha, 101 Reporters

Swayamsevaks in the 14-35 age group fall in for the physical exercise

Chandrani Sinha, 101 Reporters

Biggest RSS rally in North East

About 35,000 swayamsevaks (volunteers) from across the North East will converge in Guwahati for the programme. It's for the first time that the Hindu nationalist body is organising an event of this magnitude in the North East. Since 1994, the region has seen RSS gatherings in smaller cities like Dibrugarh and Shillong, but these never witnessed crowds of over 3,000 to 4,000.

By Chandrani Sinha, 101 Reporters

Saffron flags seen from kilometres away en route Khanapara ground

Early history of RSS in North East 

The RSS became operational in the country's North East in the mid-1940s when it set up its first base in undivided Assam, which then comprised the present-day states of Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya. For administrative purposes, the Sangh's northeastern arm is divided into two parts: Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, along with the southern parts of Assam, fall under the Dakshin Assam division. Northern parts of the state, along with Meghalaya and Nagaland, make up the Uttar Assam division.

Chandrani Sinha, 101 Reporters

Khanapara ground venue in the morning

Chandrani Sinha, 101 Reporters

Nearly 75,000 volunteers expected to attend event, says RSS functionary

Khagen Saikia, a senior RSS volunteer, behind the desk, was busy asking his colleagues if they had had their lunch, aside from responding to various queries. When asked about the kind of attendance expected on Sunday, Saikia said they were expecting over one lakh people in total. Das later confirmed that the number was actually closer to 75,000 with around 35,000 RSS karyakartas in uniform and 40,000 people as part of the audience.

Sangh leaving no stone unturned to ensure it tastes success in North East

Sankar Das, spokesperson for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), calls the organisation's mega rally on Sunday a "test". "This is the largest-ever congregation organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). More than an event, this is actually a test for us," Das said.

Cartons filled with food packets collected from residents in the neighborhood

WATCH: Pranab Chakravarty - Sanskar Bharati general secretary speaks

It is to be noted that Chakravarty been an RSS member for 53 years.

Preparations in full swing at Khanapara ground

Guwahati students have been posted on duty as Swayamsevaks at the Khanapara ground. 

Chandrani Sinha, 101 Reporters

Security tightened across the venue ahead of rally

Chandrani Sinha, 101 Reporters

Preparations underway at the venue

More than 50 women volunteers worked on drawing rangoli to welcome Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat and other leaders. 

Chandrani Sinha, 101 Reporters

Food packets for rally attendees