NALBARI, April 16 - The Nalbari anchalik unit of the AASU and the Nalbari Nagar Unnati Sabha organised a daylong Mukali Bihu at the premises of Nalbari Swahid Bhawan with the presentation of folk art and culture on the first day of Bohag.
The daylong programme began with the hoisting of AASU and Asom Unnati Sabha flags by Rubul Barman, president of the Nalbari anchalik unit of AASU and Dr Dinamani Bhagawati, president of the Nalbari district unit, Asom Unnati Sabha. The Bihu flag was hoisted by Dr Basanta Kumar Bhattacharya, former president of Nalbari zila Sahitya Sabha. The Mukali Bihu was inaugurated by Dipanka Kumar Nath, president of the All Assam Students� Union (AASU). In his speech, Nath said that bihu has been bearing a special identity of Assamese culture and strength of indigenous people. �We should unitedly keep it alive,� he added. He inaugurated the mukali bihu playing a bihu dhol. On the occasion, a total of 60 senior citizens, artistes, litterateurs were felicitated with bihuwan and other bihu gifts. Besides, bihuwans were presented to a hundred leading citizens of the district.
In the mukali bihu, bihu troupes Nayantara and Hepah performed bihu dances. A good number of artistes including Chetana Das, Nuruddin Ahmed, Asha Bardoloi, Vrigu Kashyap among others also took part in the mukali bihu. The Thespiyan, a cultural troupe presented colourful cultural programme which enthralled the audience. Besides Hirak Jyoti Sarma also played the dhol. The guests and other people attending the mukali bihu were served doi, chira, gur and mithai as bihu jalpan.
Meanwhile, the Nalbari district unit of AJYCP offered bihuwans to the senior citizens of the Nalbari town at their doorstep on the first day of Bohag. Earlier on Goru bihu, the community bathed their cattle heads at the rivers Pagladiya, Baralia, Buhradiya and Mora Pagladiya besides the ponds and beels with traditional fervour. The Dakshin Ulabari Rongali Bihu Sanmilani also celebrated Rongali bihu on April 14, 15 and 16 with a three-day programme. On the occasion, a cultural procession was also taken out in this locality on April 14. One act play and bihu dance competitions were also held on the occasion.
