GUWAHATI, April 16 � Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu � the biggest festival of the people of Assam cutting across the divides of caste, creed and community � is being celebrated across the State with gaiety and traditional fervour.
The spiralling rise in the prices of essential commodities, however, did dampen the festivities for a sizeable segment of the populace belonging to the lower middle class who are finding it increasingly difficult to spare enough for such occasions.
At some places of the State, a shower provided the much-needed respite from the heat and dust, creating the perfect Bihu ambience for the Bihu enthusiasts.
The city rose in unison to usher in the Assamese New Year, which is heralded by the Rongali Bihu, in a befitting manner. A hundred-odd Bihutolis, suitably decorated for the purpose, hosted Bihu functions late into the night, drawing huge appreciating crowds.
Earlier, on the first day of the Bihu on Tuesday � called Goru Bihu as is dedicated to cows in view of the animal�s traditional and affectionate connection with rural families � people took out their cattle to water-bodies for the ritual bathing of the cows. The occasion, which reaffirms the unique bond of love and affection between the cow and its owner, witnessed spontaneous mass participation in the rural and suburban areas.
The second day � known as Manuh Bihu (People�s Bihu) � saw widespread merry-making in the form of Bihu dances and hussori. The day began with the young seeking the blessings of the elders in the morning. Hussori troupes visited households, especially in the rural areas, to present Bihu performances. Colourful Bihu functions also marked the occasion.
In the city, the Bihu mandaps reverberated with the joyous Bihu spirit, with a host of colourful programmes. The regular Bihu song and dance and hussori competitions apart, many reputed artistes, including Zubeen Garg, Angarag Mahanta, Dikshu, Babu, Jublee, Priyanka Bharali, Krishnamani Nath, Krishnamani Chutia, Rupam Bhuyan, Bidyasagar, among others, are taking part in the celebrations which continues for 4/5 days in most of the Bihu mandaps.
Bihu functions, organised at Latasil field, Engineering Institute field, Chandmari, Bharalumukh, Beltola, Panjabari, Rajgarh, Ulubari, Kharghuli, etc., drew viewers in hordes.
Earlier on April 14 morning, the Mukoli Bihu, organised by the All Guwahati Students� Union, was widely participated by the masses. A number of artistes, litterateurs and other eminent personalities contributing in different spheres, such as Jadav Payeng, Jahnu Barua, Dr Lakshminandan Bora, UG Brahma, Arupa Kalita Patangiya, Koushalya Brahma, Dinesh Goswami, Bipul Deuri, Surath Narzary, Monica Devi, Shanti Basumatary, Kaushik Baruah, Dr Bhabananda Barbayan, Shankar Lal Goenka, Anurag Saikia, Suraj Kumar Duarah, Rajiv Kalita, Hemanta Kumar Das, Manabendra Adhikary and Tushar Senapati, were felicitated on the occasion by AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya.
