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Bihu fever running parallel to poll hustings

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 28 - With the Bihu season approaching, a number of organisers have geared up for celebrating the festival in all its grandeur, despite the election fever gripping the State along with the rest of the country.

One of the major Bihu functions of the city is held on the AEI Field at Chandmari that witnesses huge crowds of Bihu enthusiasts every year. The four-day function is organised by the Pub Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan, which would hold its 58th Bihu function this year.

To prepare the venue for the upcoming event, the main pillar (lai khuta) will be raised on the AEI Field on March 31 at 11 am. Lifelong members of the Sanmilan and its former executive president Dr Bhaskar Phukan will be present on the occasion.

A number of popular artistes and singers will perform on the occasion on April 16 and 17. The first two days of the function, April 14 and 15, are dedicated entirely to Bihu programmes, whereas on the other two days, other cultural functions are held.

�This year, Barnali Kalita, Krishnamoni Nath, Bipin Saudang and Kusum Kailash are going to perform along with others,� Abhijit Barua, president of the publicity wing of the Sanmilan said.

With growing popularity of the Bihu pageants, the Pub Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan has increased the number of prizes for its Asom Bihuwati competition. The first three winners will walk away with cash prizes of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 75 thousand and Rs 50 thousand respectively. Seven other categories have been created in this event, where the winners will get cash awards. Total prize money budget for this one category of competition is Rs 3.25 lakh. This apart, other competitions include best dhulia, best pepa, best husori and best nasoni competitions.

The Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani at Latasil, which is one of the oldest stage Bihu organisers in Assam, has also chalked out elaborate plans to continue with its tradition of holding one of the most attractive Bihu functions of the State. This year, the Sanmilani is holding its 68th Bihu function.

The popular pageant Bihu Samragyi has been decentralised this time with auditions for the competition to be held at Tezpur, Jorhat and Guwahati. The Guwahati audition for Bihu Samragyi will be held on March 31 at the Kumar Bhaskar Natya Mandir, whereas auditions for the other two places are already over.

�The step has been taken to give a chance to the talents from all parts of the State and also to make the final event smooth and swift so that we can wind it up before midnight,� Kailash Sarma, adviser to the Sanmilani said. Zubeen Garg is likely to perform at the Latasil Bihu function on April 16.

The flag hoisting for the function will be done on April 14. A number of sports events will also be held on the occasion.

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