GUWAHATI, April 14 (IANS): Sounds of drum beats and cymbals echoed the hills and dales of Assam with the state heralding the Assamese New Year or Rongali Bihu with tremendous enthusiasm on the first day of celebrations Wednesday.
The Assamese New Year begins Thursday.
Hundreds of people thronged Bihu pandals across the state with dancers in their traditional fineries performing gyrating Bihu dances on the sounds of dhols or the traditional drums and flutes made of buffalo horns.
"I am glad that people are coming out and making merry. I sincerely hope Rongali Bihu ushers in a new dawn of hope and peace in the state," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS. He tried his hand at playing a drum slung across his neck at a Bihu celebration here.
"I take this opportunity to wish the people of Assam a very happy and prosperous Bihu and at the same time extend my greetings to even leaders of all militant groups and urge them to come and join the mainstream by laying down arms," he said.
Singers and musicians are working extra hard to keep up with various community cultural shows organised across Assam.
"It is great fun performing live before thousands of people...I have composed some new numbers for the people of Assam on the occasion of Bihu," said Zubeen Garg, well-known singer of "Ya Ali", the song from Bollywood film "Gangster".
The underlying theme for the celebrations this year is 'peace and brotherhood'.
"We want an end to all forms of violence and let there be permanent peace in the state," said Samujjal Bhattacharya, advisor of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) after inaugurating a community Bihu in the city.
