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Rongali Bihu celebrated in the UAE

By editor |


The UAE based Assamese diaspora celebrated Rongali Bihu in Dubai on of April 29. The festivities were marked by a grand and colourful function that recreated scenes reminiscent of the fanfare back home in Assam. It was an occasion to reconnect to one’s roots and a platform to showcase the best of Assamese cuisine, attire and culture.


As in the previous years, celebrities from the Assamese tinsel world added glamour to the proceedings. This year the guests of honour included noted actress Barasha Rani Bishaya, lyricist-composer Diganta Bharati and percussionist Partha Pratim Goswami. The versatile Barasha wowed the audience with a bouquet of folkdances representing many ethnic communities in Assam and then followed it up with a collage of dances set to foot tapping modern numbers. But it was her graceful Bihu dance that kept the audience spellbound. Diganta Bharati rendered many popular Bihu as well as modern songs one after another and had the crowd asking for more. He literally had the audience dancing to his tunes.


Earlier in the evening senior resident Mr. Aswini Borkotoky welcomed the gathering which was followed by a chorus rendition of the timeless Nahor Phule Nuxuwai… by Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha. The chorus group led by Arman Hazorika, consisted of Partha Pratim Goswami (Bongo), Arindam Baruah (Guitar), Rushika Ranen Das & Astha Indra Bora (Keyboard), Rahul Bhattacharyya(Tabla),Dipak Tumung, Sumon Bordoloi, Amitangshu Deb Choudhury, Sandeep Bhagowati, Pankhee Bhattacharya, Niraamoni Bora, Dimple Bhagowati, Shyamali Bora and Suman Khound (vocals). Performances by various members of the expatriate community followed suit. Poem recital by Saswati Gogoi, songs by Momy Duwerah and child artiste Shreya Khaund, solo keyboard renditions by Master Ronojoy Borpujari and Master Abhirup Bhattacharya entertained the audience. However, it was the Husori led by guest artiste Partha Pratim Goswami that stole the show. The Husori team comprised B B Sharma, Dipak Tumung, Sandeep Bhagowati , Sumon Bordoloi, Rahul Bhattacharyya, Saroj Singha, Arindam Baruah, Dimple Bhagowati, Pankhee Bhattacharyya, Suman Khound, Shyamali Bora and Chandasmita Medhi. Raffle draw, quizzing on Assamese culture were the other highlights. The gathering also felicitated some senior members of the Axam Xamaj. Well known model and actress Tora Khasgir who hails from Assam (and is now based in Dubai) was among the high profile guests.


The evening was made memorable courtesy the generous support from the sponsors namely the Ajmal Group (main sponsor), Mediaedge: cia and Data Direct. Various gifts were courtesy Ajmal Perfumes, Nikai Electronis and Ramada Chelsea Hotel.


The function, beautifully anchored by Indrani Hazarika Das and Nina Kataky, concluded with the rendition of “O Mur Apunar Desh”


- Nilotpal Borpujari, Dubai




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