Guwahati, Apr 29 (ANI): The sounds of drumbeats and cymbals thrilled the milieu as people celebrated the Rongali Bihu festival with utmost enthusiasm in Assam.
Bihu celebrations are no longer limited to Assam, as it is nowadays also celebrated in Delhi and Mumbai, where people from this region live and work.
The Rongali Bihu is the most important festival of the Assamese, which marks the Assamese New Year. It is the time to sow seeds and is greatly enjoyed by the farmers. he Bihu dance is the heart of this festival. Dancers in their 'muga' dresses perform either Bihu or the hatriya dance to the accompaniment of 'dhols' or traditional drums and flutes made of buffalo horns.
Bihu is a time of merriment and the feasting continues for several days. It is also a time to raise awareness of the young generation about their culture and history.
"We need to preserve and promote our culture. We cannot forget who we are because if we forget our roots and our culture, then we cannot create something new. So, we must not forget our culture and our past otherwise we cannot solve the problems of the future," said Gopal Chetri, a businessman.
The first day of Bihu is called 'Goru Bihu'. On this day, the cows are taken out to the rivers and worshipped. It is a way of offering thanks to the cows, as neither the effective tilling of fields, nor the production of milk can take place without them. his year's celebrations are special following the decline of militancy in the region, as the militants groups are currently engaged in talks with the Centre.
"Now everyone is celebrating Bihu with great enthusiasm. Earlier, there was the threat of militants, but now it does not exist. Everyone is celebrating the festival with a feeling of oneness and unity," said Arabinda Borah, a farmer from Jorhat.
"Bihu is the main festival of Assam, we have gathered her to celebrate it and I wish all the people of India a happy Bihu from all of us," added Rintu Goswami, a local.
There are a large number of people from Assam in other parts of the country. They are very keen to keep their culture alive and celebrate the festival with great zest.
Scores of people thronged the venue for the celebrations in Mumbai. Young girls in traditional clothes performed Assamese dances.
"Bihu is an important festival for all Assamese people. They are closely connected to it," said Deepen Rajkonwar, General Secretary, Assam Association, Mumbai.
"So what if we are the younger generation, every Assamese knows the Bihu dance. And they should know it," added Madavi, a participant.
In Delhi, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts in collaboration with Assam Association of Delhi organized a Bihu festival. Hundreds of Assamese thronged the venue.
The day began with an Assamese group singing about their love for Assam. The main feature of the show was a 'kshatriya dance' performance by a young Assamese girl. Some children also performed the traditional Bihu dance on the occasion.
"The Bihu dance is performed by the youth who are Assamese but were either born or brought up in Delhi," said Ranjit Baruah, President, Assam Association of Delhi.
"I feel very good about performing the Bihu here as I got a chance to showcase my culture to the people," added Rashmi Hazarika, a participant.
Bihu celebrations in different parts of the country not only help in keeping the Assamese culture alive, but also allows others to sample the great diversity of the country and in the process brings people closer. (ANI)
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