GUWAHATI, Jan 24 - The Assamese people living in Leicester in the UK observed Silpi Divas and Bhogali Bihu together on January 16. For the last 16 years, the Assamese community living in Leicester has been celebrating the occasion, stated a press release.
The event was organized by the Asam Sahitya Sabha�s UK unit. The vice-president of the organizing committee, Manjira Chowdhury, greeted the guests with traditional Assamese snacks like cheera, laru, pitha. The secretary of the committee, Geeta Borooah, started the Silpi Divas ceremony by paying tributes to the silpis who had passed away but left behind the legacy through their works of arts, poems, songs and music.
A committee member, Tarun Chowdhury, gave a speech on Late Bishnu Rabha and recited one of Late Birendra Nath Bhattacharyya�s poems �Bishnu Rabha Etiya Kiman Rati�.
The president of the organizing committee, Lahori Barthakur, paid tribute to the silpis and welcomed everyone. Talking about the Bhogali Bihu, she said that all over the world, people have same kinds of celebrations but with different names. Even in India such as in Punjab, Gujarat, Bengal and Southern India, they celebrate this function with lighted fire and pray to the God for peace and harmony. She then chanted the sloka that is usually sung in Assam in front of the meji: �Agnim prajalitam bande. Chaturbarna hutasanam, subarna barna mamalam jyotirupayate namah�.
Traditional Assamese sports like Tekeli Bhanga, Musical Chair were also organized to mark the occasion.
