MANGALDAI, April 22 � Just at a time when controversy was prevailing surrounding a couple of Rongali Bihu celebration committees and star artistes including Zubin Garg and Jublee Barua, the six-day-long diamond jubilee celebrations of Sadou Mangaldai Rongali Bihu ended on Monday midnight here at the Gandhi Maidan with Zubin and Jublee performing as the guest artistes in the cultural night. However, Zubin yet again frustrated thousands of listeners who thronged the venue hours before the scheduled programme, as he arrived at the Bihu stage late almost by three hours, much to the embarrassment of the organisers and security officials in front of an irate audience of around 15,000.
The organising committee which asked Zubin time and again to arrive ahead of schedule, so that the programme could begin on time and subsequently also ends not too late, considering the inconvenience of the rest of the participants as well as the audience, reportedly expressed its strong resentment before Zubin, for his failure to be punctual. Zubin�s entry on the stage was immediately followed by a heavy downpour which caused immense trouble to the thousands of people assembled there under the sky particularly the women.
It may be mentioned here that celebration of Rongali Bihu functions till late at night has already become a matter of serious concern, as loss of many lives in accidents while returning home from such Bihu functions have been reported and concerned citizens of the State appealed both to the Bihu organisers and the artistes not to create unnecessary delay in arranging and performing functions.
Meanwhile, the last cultural night of the celebration was inaugurated by Basanta Das, State Minister for Water Resources, Fisheries as well as the president of the organising committee. Prior to the cultural night, the souvenir published on the occasion and edited by Nirmali Devi was released by Bipul Deori, eminent writer and winner of the Sahitya Academy Award.
The six-day long Diamond Jubilee Rongali Bihu festival earlier got off to a colourful start on April 15 last with the hoisting of the organising committee�s flag by its president and State Minister, Basanta Das, which was followed by a colourful cultural procession echoing various traditional cultures of ethnic communities including the rich Darrangi culture, thereby reflecting high values of culture in communal harmony and brotherhood. Deputy Commissioner, Darrang, Manoj Kumar formally flagged off the procession from the bihutoli at Gandhi Maidan. The celebration also featured different State level and district-level competitions including All Assam Mukali Bihu, Bihu Kunwari, and Drama contest.
In the Mukali Bihu contest Youth Club , Mangaldai Bihuwa Dal emerged as the best team to bag the Shyam Sundar Agarwalla memorial trophy and cash award of Rs 21,000. Dipjyoti Bihuwa Dal of Orang, Udalguri was adjudged as the second best team to lift the freedom fighter Dandiram Bora and Abdul Hamid memorial trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 11,000. A total of 19 Bihu troupes from all over the State took part in this event. On the other hand, Dorothi Saikia of Orang clinched the All Assam Bihu Kunwari title to bag the Sukantipriya memorial trophy and a cash award of Rs 15,000 while Mrinmoyee Deka of Mangaldai was adjudged second and got the Upen Deka memorial trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 8000. In the State-level drama contest held in the Biplab Roy memorial stage, the Naatghar of Bajali was adjudged as the best team followed by Siphung the Artiste of Goreswar and Donak Guild of Mangaldai. Gopal Krishna Deka of �Yuba Bandhu Natya Dal� of Sipajhar bagged the best actor title while Tridib Kalita of �Antaranga Gosthi�, Bezpara, Mangaldai got the best actor in �villain character� prize.
In the traditional attire contest, the event introduced for the first time for both men and women, participation was stated to be very encouraging. In the male category, Hrishikesh Deka, Partha Pratim Das and Abhilash Das were the first three winners respectively while in female category Mainu Pathak, Priyanka Hazarika and Nabamallika Konwar were adjudged as first, second and third contestants respectively. In addition to these events, competitions were also held in other events including bihuwan making, pitha-pona making, flowering, Jeng Bihu, Mou Kunwari, drawing, singing etc., were also held befitting the occasion. Public felicitation to a few prominent citizens of the district and a unique event called �Antaranga� to bring the all the senior office bearers of the historic Sadou Mangaldai Rongali Bihu Celebration Committee since its inception in 1954 also marked the Diamond Jubilee Rongali Bihu celebration.
