NAMRUP: A tiny hamlet in Dibrugarh district dresses afresh to celebrate the Magh Bihu. Around 1500 people in this historic Rangshuwa Bordubi village in Tingkhong area, have stood united to celebrate the much vaunted annual festival with a simple message: We Are the Same Boat Brothers, a Pol Robson song which still sticks to the lips of millions of people in Assam after it emerged from the bariton voice of Dr Bhupen Hazarika in native version.
For the last fortnight, around 100 people—old and young are busy with erecting a huge boat of bamboo and stuble structure in the name of a Bhelaghar (make shift house meant for Uruka feasting) to spread the message of brotherhood and bonhomie on this auspecious occasion.
“With this attempt we want to spread the message of unity. Bhupen-da died. But what he tried to tell with the Assamese version of the great song still living in the hearts of millions of the people. We want to tell the world on this occasion,” said a villager who has been taking the lead.
“Bihu is an occasion to strengthen the bond beyond castes and creeds. Let it unite the people of all walks of life,” said another villager.
A local lady who is prepararing the traditional sweets to serve her nears and dears on the occasion said,” we the simple villagers have decided to make it a huge occasion to spread this unique message at a time when unrest, intolerance threaten to break the age old unity. Eating and merry making is not the sole aim of this occasion. Let us feel the inner strength of this festival.”
She said,”we do vow to keep the culture and tradition intact in this annual harvest festival. Our sweets include sweets of coconut and pastries apart from the sticky rice in the bamboo tube.”
The two days occasion is starting on Saturday with a community feasting at night where the make shift house would be set afire after the end of the feasting.
On Sunday wee hours the folks are liting up the Meji, a huge bamboo and wooden structure to offer puja to the fire god. This would be followed by cultural shows and taditional games and sports.
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