Skip to content Skip to navigation

Rongali Bihu celebrations in Delhi

It was merriment time for the Assamese community in the capital who swayed to the reverberating tunes of bihu songs and dance at a mega celebration here. The venue of this year’s main Bihu by the Assam Association, Delhi was Lal Chowk, Pragati Maidan. Far from home but not far away from the homeland spirit, a large crowd of around 3000 people thronged the celebrations organized on Sunday evening.

The affluence and abundant endowment of nature in the Assam valley during this time of the year is rightly reflected in the spirit of Rongali Bihu, celebrated in the first Assamese month of Bohag.

At the celebrations, Assamese child, youth and old, from neighbouring satellite cities of Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Noida apart from Delhi poured in. 'The gathering is really overwhelming. I am happy to be associated with Assamese people on this great occasion' Mr Jayant Kastuar,Secretary Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Chief guest, spoke on the occasion. There were other guests of honour like Mr N M Bora,CMD, OIL; Mr. H S Brahma, IAS, Secretary to GOI, Dr Atul Sarma, Member 13th Finance Commission, who graced the occasion. Dr Sarma released the ‘Samayik’- magazine of the Association.


DSCN0528_398259745.jpg
Bihu team with Ms Sanghamitra Ghosh, Principal of the primary section of Mother's International School, Delhi

The crowd went into raptures when a group of youngsters presented husori, or Bihu carols, accompanied by musical instruments like dhol (drum), taal (brass cymbal) and mohor xingor pepa (buffalo horn pipe), gogona (Jew’s harper). It was followed by some mood lifting popular numbers by guest artist young Ms Abhishruti Bezbaruah. Bihu dance by a bevy of Delhi bred small children mesmerized the crowd soon after, hinting continuance of the vibrant Assamese cultural life in the busy capital city.

Star attraction of the evening was noted Assamese playback singer Mr Dwipen Barooah, who sang more than 350 film songs for Assamese films. Mr Barooah sang for more than 1 hour, and kept the audience spellbound with evergreen Assamese numbers.


DSCN0514_507417232.jpg
Bihu performance at the Mother's International School, Delhi

A team sent by Culture Department of Assam Government performed bihu towards the end and lifted the mood. 'This is an amazing period for us Assamese. It is simply enjoyment right now and nothing else' said Ms Bina Saikia, a professional who hails from Dibrugarh and is employed with an IT firm at Gurgaon. The finale came with 'mukoli Bihu' when every one danced together once again celebrating the New Year spirit, but in a free for all mode.

The bihu team was taken on next day to the Mother’s International School for a performance before the Primary section students. The aim is to propagate Assamese culture among young people. The team also performed at ‘Disang Club’ of Oil India Ltd, apart from doing a recording for Doordarshan.

Comments

tassaduque hussain's picture

Fantastic coverage of Bihu celebrations in Delhi, Congratulations and keep it up. Regards
Kishore Baruah's picture

Congratulations to the organisers for bringing together the Assamese community in Delhi area to celebrate Rongali Bihu.
Pinky Pradhan's picture

It so good to know that we are keeping the tradition and spirit of Bihu alive. Thank you Manoj da , for so beautifully, capturing the programme, even though I couldn't attend it, I feel as if i was there after reading your feature.
Jayantimala Devi's picture

Good, Manoj. But, there is an important omission - you forgot to record the enthralling performance by Abhishruti Bezbarua, an internationally acclaimed upcoming singer from Assam.- Must be an oversight.
Prodip Borkakoty's picture

Thanks Manojda for keeping me abreast of our bihu celebrations Delhi in this distant Land and keeping our JAOTIJUGIYA POROMPORA alive
Mridul Bhuyan's picture

The Bihu Dance presented by Assam Association, Gurgaon should have been mentioned, as association was invited to participate.
Manoj Kr Das's picture

Hi Mridul! It was not the detailed description of the programme..few items were only highlighted due to lack of space.. 'Jogajog' will carry out the list of programmes with credit to all..to Jayanti Baidew..Ms Abhishruti's name is there in the second para..Tc
Jayantimala Devi's picture

Extremely sorry, Manoj! An oversight on MY PART. Did not see beyond the photographs.
chandan Sarma's picture

Congrats for the Bihu celebration in Delhi, but the arrangement was too poor. It’s not like Bihu celebration in Delhi as there was no proper lighting, sound system, etc. If there had been more Bihu songs and dance it could have made a better Bihu celebration
maina's picture

Yes chandan you are right. The program was too poor compared to the last year Bihu celebration.

Pages

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

36 hours Dima Raji Bnadh affects normal life

19 Jan 2011 - 1:59am | Anup Biswas
The 36 hours Dima Raji Bandh starting from 5 AM today paralyzed the normal life here at Haflong. The bandh was called by Joint Action Committee Dima Raji Movement (JACDM) in protest against the...

Bhutan women defeat KDSA XI

29 Nov 2017 - 8:43am | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Bhutan XI won the women's football exhibition defeating Kokrajhar district sports association (KDSA) XI by 2-0 goals being held at KDSA stadium ground on Tuesday in Kokrajhar.  The women's...

One killed in Golaghat road mishap

21 May 2012 - 2:11am | editor
One person was killed and three others seriously injured in a road mishap in Golaghat district on Sunday.The driver of a speeding car lost control of the vehicle which skidded off the road killing...

Gogoi turns 81

11 Oct 2014 - 10:22am | AT News
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi turns 81 on Saturday. But the birth day will be a low-key affairs which will confine to his family members only at Koinadhara. He has already received umpteen numbers of...

Other Contents by Author

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands had been on our travel plan for quite some time. We are a family of sea lovers. Something in our veins draws us inexplicably to the vast blue waters… and this ‘something’ had been nagging me persistently for a while to pay a visit to the idyllic islands. The remoteness and the ‘kalapani’ tag was a fascination since childhood. One fine summer-break evening my daughter insisted that we go there. Seconded very strongly by my son, my wife, I had no choice but to browse the computer screen and check out airfare options. The enthusiasm spread quickly! My wife got an LTC and was allowed Airfare under a scheme of the Govt. of India and...
Assam Association, Delhi felicitated three great sons of Assam in a graceful function at Srimanta Sankaradeva Bhawan. The function coincided with the inauguration of the recently completed Auditorium of the Association, located at Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi. Three eminent persons are Dr Ramesh Deka- who is appointed Director in AIIMS, Mr. Hari Shankar Brahma- who has been appointed as Secretary to the Government of India and Mr Anjan Gogoi, who has been promoted to Air Marshal in the Indian Airforce. President Sri Atul Chandra Barua welcomed the guests and informed demise of eminent poet, musician and lyricist Sri Bhabendranath Barthakur. The meeting condoled the death of Sri...
Six indigenous ethnic communities from Assam namely Chutiyas, Tai Ahom. Motok, Moran, Koch Rajbangshis and Tea Tribes have staged dharna at Jantar Mantar, coinciding the inaugural day of the Winter session of Parliament on December 9, 2009. They shouted slogans againat the apathy of the government in tabling the bill to grant ST status to these 6 communities.
Veteran folk Singer Khagen Mahanta and his wife Archana Mahanta enthralled the crowd at Assam Day celebrated at Lal Chowk, Pragati Maidan today. In a rare showmanship the mass entertainer sang like, there is no another day. The crowd of 3000 plus swayed and responded to his call for participation. His green numbers of 70s were still in vogue with the crowd mostly comprising of youth and students.Assam Day is celebrated every year at Pragati Maidan coinciding India International Trade Fair to propagate the rich cultural heritage of Assam. Assam's industrial infrastructure and policies are also highlighted to entice investment to the state.
North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) has participated with a contingent of 35 entrepreneurs at the 27th India International trade fair at Pragati Maidan. This is the 6th consecutive year that NEDFi has participated in IITF. It has 12 stalls from Assam, 3 from Manipur, 4 from Mizoram, 4 from Sikkim, 4 from Nagaland, 2 from Arunachal Pradesh, 2 from Meghalaya and 4 from Tripura. The pavilion is aptly named 'NEDFi Haat' in consonance with its permanent exhibition space at Guwahati. 13 new firms have participated this year. NEDFi has brought in select handicraft and handloom items based on the local material and craft endowment of North East. There is a conscious effort to...
The vigilant and concerned Assamese residents of Delhi belonging to all the ethnic groups, associations, student organizations currently residing in the National Capital Region of Delhi, have congregated at the historic 'Jantar Mantar' to mark their protest against the recent barbaric serial bomb blasts in Assam. The serial bomb blasts on that black Thursday of 30th October, 08 rocked Assam, killing about 100 innocent people and injuring about another 400. This has shattered the confidence of common man on the ability of the state machinery to provide them the minimum security, and safety. The perpetrators have struck with impunity and at will. The rallyists came from all walks of life and...
Assamese citizens of Delhi participated in a peace rally from Assam Bhawan to 'eleven statues'- (the famous statue of Gandhiji with 10 select followers) located at Sardar Patel Marg, Chanakyapuri. About 400 students, youths and people from different walks of life took part in the rally shouting slogans that condemned the the terrorists and demanded safety for the common people. The air was ranted with slogans of 'Terrorism- down, down", "We want peace", "Terrorists-Hang them", "This country is ours" etc.The Assamese citizens of Delhi are concerned at the lawlessness and helplessness of the state machinery in tackling terrorist attacks. This was the worst attack...
NEDFi has put up a show to showcase the unique and beautiful designer products of North East in the Indian Exposition Mart at Greater Noida in the Autumn version of Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair’ 08 which was started on 15th Oct and will continue till 18th Oct. The fair draws thousands of buyers from all over the world during this 4 day extravaganza. Many buyers have visited the North East pavilion aptly named ‘COLOURS OF NATURE’. Enquiries on bamboo products, cane products and the handloom weaves of the North East are being made and actions appear positive. Maximum buyers have been from Europe and Japan. The Muga silk of Assam has its own uniqueness and the visitors...
Assamese society is incomplete without a namghor- which is the spiritual and societal mainstay of their life back home. Earlier, the Assam Association, Delhi has provided a priceless gift to the people of Assam by establishing and commissioning the cultural centre, Srimanta Sankaradeva Bhawan in the national capital territory of Delhi at Qutb Institutional Area. To fulfill the aspirations of establishing a namghor the residents of Delhi under the stewardship of ‘Asamiya Kristi Kendra, Dwarka’ has taken up the initiative to set up a public ‘namghor’ at Shyam Vihar, which is at stones throw from Dwarka Sub-city, where more than 300 Assamese families have made home as a...