From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: With the trees donning a fresh set of lush green leaves, soothing showers wiping the atmosphere off the dust deposited in the dry months just gone by and the ubiquitous cuckoo waking you up from the early morning slumber with its melodious call, the Spring must be in the air. It is time for celebration of Rongali Bihu in Assam.
Notwithstanding the spiraling prices during Rongali Bihu (Spring Festival) time, the people of Assam have started the celebrations with all fun and grace taking advantage of the peaceful atmosphere in the state where the insurgency is on the wane.
The rhythmic beat of the drum ( dhol) and the sound of other folk musical instruments is renting the air throughput the state air throughout the state with all ethnic communities geared up to take part in the celebrations in their own ways reflecting the diversity in the unity.
The absence of the iconic musician Dr Bhupen Hazarika in this Rongali Bihu is being felt by the people of Assam and all the Bihu celebrations organised in nook and corners of the state have made it a point to pay rich tribute to the cultural icon of the Northeast India before beginning the celebrations. Dr Hazarika passed away on November 5 last year.
To showcase the colourful ethnic mosaic of the state, the influential All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) today organised a mega Bihu celebrations in the heart of the city at the historic Judges’ Filed where all the principal ethnic groups of the state took part. Over 5000 people thronged the venue to get seeped in the spirit of Rongali Bihu.
Dancers and artistes from different ethnic groups presented themselves before the festival crowd in their best traditional wears and performed to their best to enthrall the gathering. The nice weather too amplified the merry-making. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi too took time out his busy schedule to celebrate Rongali Bihu with the people along with is son Gaurav Gogoi. The Chief Minister danced and beat the drum with Bihu artistes at a Bihu celebration venue at Latasil playground in the city to mark the beginning of the week-long celebration.
Bihu songs and dance render the youthfulness and merriment that is an integral part of the celebration. The songs associated with Bihu celebrations generally portray the longings of a youthful heart, who seeks glorification of his / her love and woos the beloved with promises of eternal love and togetherness. The Bihu dance that accompany these songs are a celebration of youth and fertility. The scale of celebrations this time could be gauged from the fact around 40 Bihu Celebrations (Bihu Sanmelan) are being held in Guwahati alone. Such celebrations are part and parcel throughout other parts of the state. Some of these Sanmelan organise mega competitions among Bihu dancers and drum beaters and winner of presented with fabulous prized both in cash and kind.