City gears up to celebrate Rongali Bihu

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, April 13:  Along with the rest of the State, the city residents are also gearing up to celebrate the Rongali Bihu festival from today.
Markets in the city are teeming with people going Bihu shopping. Thousands of people went out to the markets, small shops and shopping malls.
Number of Bihu Sanmilans (functions) has planned various cultural events to celebrate the Rongali Bihu festival from Friday.
In the city several Bihu organizing committee have planned various programmes with huge budget. 
The Guwhati Bihu Sanmilani is going to organize Bihu programmes at Latashil ground in the city with a budget of Rs 20 lakh. The Pub-Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan has organized Bihu programme at Chandmari in the city with a budget of Rs 18.50 lakh. 
The budget of New Guwhati Rangali Bihu Sanmilan and Ganeshguri Rangali Bihu Sanmilan is 10 lakh each while the budget of Greater Hengerabari Rangali Bihu Sanmilan is Rs 25 lakh. On the other hand, the Greater Japorigog Rongali Bihu Sanmilan has fixed as budget of Rs 13 lakh.   
Rongali Bihu is the most important harvest festival of the Assamese people. It starts the New Year calendar of the Assamese people. People of the state observe it every year irrespective of their class, caste, community and religion. On Friday, people will celebrate Goru Bihu which is dedicated to the cattle and livestock. During the Garu Bihu celebration, in the morning cattle are taken to nearby ponds or river banks for a ceremonial bath. 
On the other hand, the All Guwahati Students' Union (AGSU) is going to organize Mukoli Bihu - an open field celebration of Bihu in the Judges' Field of Guwahati tomorrow. 
The programme will be started with the hoisting of Bihu flag by writer Upendra Borkotoky and AASU president Dipanka Kr th. AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi will carry out smriti tarpan programme. 
The students' body will felicitate many noted persolities on the occasion for their valuable contributions in various fields. AASU chief adviser Samujjal Kr Bhattacharya will felicitate them.  
Meanwhile, City Police Commissioner Hiren Ch th today said that as per Supreme Court guidelines, permissions have been issued to Bihu organizing committees to continue their programmes till 10 pm. 
"Still, we will allow programmes till 12.00 am. We will, however, intervene if programmes go on after 12.00 am," th said.  
He further said that security has been put in place for smooth conduct of the Bihu programmes in the city.
"We have asked the Bihu committees to install CCTVs at the Bihu function venues besides engaging adequate number of volunteers. Police will carry out patrolling during the night," he said.
"We have also appealed the artistes to wrap up their programme on time because due to late night prgrammes, number of accidents took place in the past," th said.  
The Kamrup (M) district administration has banned consumption of alcohol and other rcotic substance at the Bihu function venues. 
The administration has also instructed the Bihu committees to arrange parking place at the venues besides the provision of drinking water.