Assamese NRI in the USA Celebrate Bhogali Bihu with Daylong Festivities in Maryland

A Correspondent

Bongaigaon: In an attempt to keep their own selves attached along with connecting the new generation to the root, the NRI Assamese people of the United States of America had celebrated “Bhogali Bihu” on Saturday. Assamese people from 3 states of the USA, including Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia (Greater Washington DC), jointly celebrated Bhogali at Kingsview School of Germantown, Maryland, with a daylong programme. 

The Assamese Society of these three states has been celebrating Bhogali and Rongali Bihu every year since 2007. The motto was clear: love and call of heart for one’s own culture, one’s own soil. Therefore, the Bhogali is celebrated this year also after a monthlong preparation at every level, like permission, collection, communication, decoration, food arrangement, events, etc.  The day was a bit cold for winter, but the weather was quite clear and sunny after several days of heavy snowfall in Maryland. Both the roadsides were decorated with white snow through which about 125 NRI Assamese of about 40 families assembled in the hall of Kingsview School to celebrate the festival of joy and feast.

 Programme of this year started with a welcome to all the guests, followed by an introduction and warm welcome of the new members of the Assamese community in the USA. Just after the welcome ceremony, the breakfast was served with Assamese traditional foods such as laru, pitha, doi-chira, etc. 

The daylong programme included cultural events like Bihu dance, songs, different traditional games like marble-spoon races for kids, music chairs for ladies, and pot breaking (tekeli bhonga) for gents, etc. 

At noon it was time for “Akhomiya ehaj” (a lunch with Assamese dishes). The menu covered a good number of dishes like Alu-koni pitika (potato-egg mashed), bengena pora (heat-roasted brinjal), sak vaji (fried leafy vegetables), matimahor dali (split black gram lentils), different types of egg curry, fish curry, mutton curry, duck curry, and chicken curry (all cooked in Assamese traditional style), cream, mihidana, etc.

 The people got emotional to have an Assamese test and feel after a long time. “We missed these tastes of our childhood. These are the smells of our homeland, the smells of our mother’s kitchen, whose taste can’t ever be compared with any food. Missing these was much more painful. Today, on this occasion, we are retrospecting our own land, few of them expressed. The finale programme was an altogether Mukoli Bihu where everyone had a hand. Eventually, a vote of thanks and best wishes for good health and a better future for everyone was given in twilight.

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