Busu Dima festival celebrated

Like in previous years, this time too the Dimasa communities of all Dimasa dominated areas of Assam and Nagaland celebrated 'Busu Dima' in a bid to keep alive their traditional food, sports, culture and also its the festival of eating newly grown autumnal rice, while reflecting the age-old harmony among the simple and down-to-earth people of the area. The festival is usually celebrated when all works of the jhum cultivation are completed. Thus the Busu is an occasion for relaxation from hard toils. Busu Dima is one of the most important and biggest festivals of the Dimasas. The grand Busu festival is divided into three categories:-

• Busu Jidap: Which is celebrated for two to three days.
• Surem Baino: Which is observed for five days.
• Hangseu Busu : Which lasts for seven days.

Busu Dima is being observed centrally by the Dimasa community of Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Nagaon in Assam and Dimapur district of Nagaland, with various scheduled programme from 27 January. In all festivities they used to make a "heih-ho" (Haoba) as to mark the grand festivities and ceremony. When the sun goes down the competition called Baiba Badailaiba (Dance competition) consisting of singing, dancing and playing musical instruments of Muree are held in playground. Playing of traditional Dimasa musical instruments is marked as attraction of the festival. It is to be mentioned here that Maibang, Dima Hasao is a big area inhabited by Dimasa people where "Baidama" dance presented by hundreds of young Dimasa girls of Maibang enthralled the culture loving people and the final contest of traditional music and sports marked the closing ceremony of the Busu Dima festival. Over the years, these peace-loving and hard-working villagers have been living peacefully maintaining a close link with other communities of the area signifying numerous ideological lines, including giving a facelift to their village as a model one with a typical system of managing their social system. In several places of Haflong like Dibarai, Digrik, Town Rajee, Boildura and Gdain Rajee also celebrated 'Busu' with great enthusiasm.