TURA: An epic gathering of the faithful from the length and breadth of Garo Hills brought the curtains down on the biggest religious conference in the history of the region-145th A’chik Baptist Dalgipa Krima Soba, with a special worship service on Sunday attended by a sea of devotees that also included the Chief Minister of the state.
Tura town had the privilege of hosting the biggest Soba for the last time before it moves to a permanent site, two years from now. Rongjeng , tucked away in East Garo Hills bordering the West Khasi Hills region, will host the 145th ABDK Soba next year.
“If you want to follow and choose a good life and celebrate eternal life then read the Scriptures, because Jesus never fails,” said Reverend Dr Benjamin Christian, the main speaker of this year’s ABDK Soba.
Laying emphasis on the importance of the Scriptures (Holy Bible), Reverend Benjamin said that for one to be a good teacher, a good businessman, a good leader he or she should read the Word of God.
“Read the Scriptures if you want to be a good soul,” said the reverend who also dwelled at length on the different problems facing society and the youth in today’s world.
He spoke on the burning issue of single mothers abandoned by their husbands and left to fend for themselves and gave comforting words of reassurance through Christ. “The Lord will walk into your life even when everyone else has abandoned you,” said Reverend Benjamin.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma along with his brother and home minister James Pangsang K Sangma and a host of MLAs, including former chief minister Mukul Sangma, also attended the church service on the last day.
Welcoming the delegates and the thousands of devotees who had converged in Tura for the Soba, the chief minister, who also happens to be the legislator of south Tura where the Soba is taking place, said that it was a privilege for the citizens of the biggest and most important town to host the event.
“Each one of my fellow citizens have made so much preparations to make this soba more solemn and a memorable event. Meghalaya government has made all out effort to make the city of Tura hospitable for everyone. If you find anything falling short in your brief stay I sincerely apologize,” said the chief minister who is also the legislator representing south Tura constituency where the ABDK Soba has been taking place.
Mentioning about the upcoming national games which Meghalaya will host in 2022, the chief minister urged one and all to have the same zeal of working unitedly to make the games a success.
“The cities of Shillong and Tura will be hosting the national games and we will all need the blessings of God for its success. The same way all of us have worked unitedly to successfully host the 145 ABDK Soba I would appeal to all to do the same for the upcoming games too,” said Conrad Sangma.
The five day religious event stirred boundless enthusiasm among the local populace who played hosts with elan, with curated walls, flowered roads and mouth watering food stalls welcoming the visitors to the largest town in the Garo Hills.
Despite nature playing spoilsport at times, the Soba which witnessed a large gathering of faithful never let up on its spirit.
It was this buoyant spirit, with a touch of the spiritual that was on display this Sunday afternoon with people in large numbers flocking to the venue to witness the Soba on the final day.