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Keeping sanctity of Bihu intact

By The Assam Tribune
Keeping sanctity of Bihu intact
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Bimal Kumar Hazarika

Nowadays almost all festivals have been relegated to mere rituals. We observe these festivals as they are going along with the norms earlier fixed. No more no less, instead, if we had just pondered over. We bring into play religion in such festivals. And what about the folk festivals? These festivals originated as an offshoot of wild impish glee of our forefathers at their primitive stage. At that time they did not know the use of clothes and not at all ashamed of being naked. The cave men together shouted hoarse, spontaneously moving their hand and feet in gay abandon. Those were the day, when the primitive people satiated their lust with sheer strength.

With a swish of her magic wand, time has brought about a change of the scenario. Human being became civilized. They were now aware of such ideas as love and hatred. Their hoarse voices turned into songs. The wild glee got a rhythm. Their improvised dances were now known as folk dances. Folk culture thrived under the vast open sky, the big barren fields, on the bank of the turbulent river. Folk culture is now defined. The rustic people, now civilized, learnt to express their feelings through songs. Love flourished. Time somersaulted ‘culture’

now is understood in a changed perspective. The ‘Japi’ is culture but when it is decorated with beautiful patterns of flowers it leaves the very term culture and changes to ‘aesthetic culture’. The aroma of folk culture now found a resting place in the sweating body of the farmer, one’s own identity and existence ascertained. The rustic poet sang with full-throated ease: “Mango tree changed leaves/big tree changed leaves/ you my darling/changed your colour/wearing ‘Muga riha’ on the body.”

Bohag is the month when love flourishes in its resplendent glory. It is like a swirling river that conquers the heart of young men and women. This love is all embracing. It does not care caste or creed. The rustic poet with all his emotion declare: “If you desire/if I desire/how would caste or class impede?”

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