Rongali Bihu grips Guwahati

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 16: Rongali festivities have gripped Guwahati. With Goru Bihu held on April 14, Manuh Bihu on April 15 and Gossain Bihu underway today, Guwahati air is rent with songs and music at the staccato of Bihu dhols and pepa.

The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) observed Mukali Bihu on April 14 when Sabitri Das iugurated the Bihagi flag. Amidst various cultural and other programmes, the AASU felicitated a number of prominent persolities of the state, including Padmashree Lakshindan Bora, Padmashree Jadav Payeng, Sahitya Akademi Award winner UG Brahma, Koushalya Brahma, Dinesh Goswami, Bipul Deori, Surat rzary, Manika Devi, Santi Basumatary, Bhabanda Barbayan, Shankarlal Goenka, Anurag Saikia, Suraj  Kumar Duahra, Rajib Kalita, Hemanta Kumar Das, Mabendra Adhikari and Tushar Sepati..

On April 15, the Deoris observed Bohag Bishu at Soiguli in the city under the aegis of the Deori Jatiya Mancha.

Elsewhere in the city, there are celebrations by Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani at Latasil, Paschim Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani at Bharalumukh, Pub-Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani at Chandmari, Ulubari Bihu Sanmilani at Ulubari and others till late night.

Artistes like Zubin Garg and Angarag Mahanta (Papon) and their troupes have been having a harrowing time to  hop from one stage to another. Priyanka Bharali, Chayanika Bhuyan, Babu, Gitali, Dikshu, Simanta Sekhar, Krishmoni Chutia and others also literally race against time as they have to hop from one stage to another in the city. Along with them, a section of audience also keeps hopping from one pandal to another.

It is rightly said that the Bihu festivity never comes alone, and it leaves no area in public life in the state untouched. Every person, regardless of cast, creed and religion, feels the effect of Bihu – one way or the other.

Big budget Bihu is another feature in Guwahati where over Rs 10 crore is being spent by various Bihu sanmilanis this year. While Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani at Latasil has a budget of Rs 20 lakh,  Pub-Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani has a budget of Rs 30 lakh, the budget of Japorigog Bihu is Rs 12 lakh, that of Beltola Bohagi Utsav is of Rs 25 lakh, Dakshin Guwahati Rongali Bihu has a budget of Rs 30 lakh, that of Kharguli Bihu Sanmilani is Rs 20 lakh, Hengrabari Bihu Sanmilani is of Rs 20 lakh and Ulubari Bihu is of Rs 30 lakh.

Though cultural nites steal the show during Bihu festivities, the importance of related activities cannot be ignored. Every Bihu sanmilani is a place where there are a whole lot of activities for children like games and sports, programmes for essay writings, recitations, quiz contests, deliberations on various cultural and other aspects by prominent persolities and the like take place.