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Assam: Festive mood in the time of Rongali

If winter comes can spring be far behind? This is what Assam is in for. The much vaunted Rongali Bihu is back on her lap. it is evident from the tender leaves in the trees, flowers in bloom with fragrance. The rivers which have lost their prime are regaining their strength. Guests birds are also back to the state to make the bringing of a new Assamese year more colourful. Colourful in her beauty and bountry and colourful in songs and dances.

Assam is all set to celebrate its Rongali bihu from Sunday across the state by the people living in the ivory towers to those in the humble cottages because it the Rongali Bihu....thier much-vaunted bihu.

The celebration will begin with Goru bihu where cows will be taken out to the nearby ponds and rivers for holy dip folowed by puja offerings. The Borbihu falls on Monday to enjoy it full to the brim with bihu hucharis.

Bihu hucharis have reached the stage from the open field in the pastoral life. Yes, Bihu hucharis are there in the stage in the urban Assam these days but experts in the field have observed some changes in the rural life also saying it's perhaps change of time.

In Guwahati, hundreds of functions are being organised by the people of all sections. The functions have already begun in several places in the city.

The organisers have already confirmed the participations of their artists a month ago. Prominent among them are Zubin Garg, Manash Rabin, Anupam Saikia, Dipen Baruabh and what not.

Also, child artists Asthajitnanda Bordoloi, who have set some sort of record by signing Dr Bhupen Hazarika's songs and also Harshita Roy also are expected to hog the limelight in the functions. They have also received many invitation albeit they can't make it.

Latashil Filed is hosting bihu function on Sunday to be attended among others by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Several people have participated a recent workshop bihu dance at the Sankardev Kalakhetra in the city.

Comments

Ramen Deka, Mintu deka, Singhajit Deka, Mahesh Deka's picture

Rangali bihu has changed in course of time. We are observing some modernism to our beloved Rangali Bihu. In the old days people of Assam enjoyed bihu dances, bihu competitions in the open fields. But these days we often observe that the organisers organise bihu dances, competitions in stages instead of the open fields. Bihu songs are also getting modernised very sadly, we can't get the real melody in some of the today's songs. Some of the cassette producers, directors in Assam are trying to bring some extra in the bihu songs. May be it's the calling of time, but we do not know its effect in the coming days. It's true that everything in this world changes in course of time, but we should be conscious that in trying to get modernised are we loosing the origin of our vaunted Rangali Bihu? Here, we are really missing it.

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