Magh Bihu celebrated in New Delhi with enthusiasm
>From Our Bureau
DIBRUGARH, Jan 25 The numero uno festival of the Assamese residents of
Delhi, Bhogali Bihu was celebrated by the Assam Association, Delhi with
traditional fervour mixed with modern flavour at the Central Secretariat
Grounds at Chanakyapuri. The celebrations began with uruka being celebrated
on January 20. The uruka was kept as a restricted affair, with only the
families of those directly involved in the arrangement and management of the
function attending. It may be mentioned at the risk of being repetitive that
celebration was kept on the succeeding Sunday of the actual day to suit the
requirements of the metro life.
A grand bihutoli was set up with elaborate tents at the Central Civil Services
Sports Control Board playfields. This was the second straight year where the
weather god did not play truant and the bright Sun providing succour to the
cold bitten souls. More and more people are joining the festivities and ORKUT
communities like Assamese in Delhi, Assam our Paradise etc. flashing news
chains that drew hundreds into the field. The attendance was in excess of 1000
and the items of 'bhoj' (feast) exhausted by late afternoon. A gourmets delight
with Assamese flavour was prepared throughout night with chefs toiling it out
to churn out the tastiest tenga anja, bengon bhaja, mangshor curry etc. Ghila
pitha, narikol laru, bundia bhujia, nimki were prepared to make the taste feel
at home. A designer meji was erected with bamboo and firewood.
Early in the morning the Associations flag was hoisted by the associations
president, Bikash Chandra Bora, former CMD of ONGC and rendering of Lakshmi
Nath Bezbaruas O Mor Aponar desh
O mor chikunir desh..., made the adrenalin
gush through the veins of the Dillibasi Assamese.
At 11:30 am, the chief guest Kanu Gohain, former general secretary of the
Association and current Director General of Civil Aviation lit the meji amid
chanting of haridhwanis and uruli. Mah-prasad, gota karai were offered to the
revellers. An impromptu Bihu dance broke out instantly with dancers appearing
from nowhere and singers doling out heart-warming numbers. Thereafter Nripendra
Nath Gogoi, former CMD of OIL India Ltd. released the Samayik, the bi-annual
news bulletin and magazine of the association. Samayik is the medium of
communication among the members of the association and a means of cultivating
the literary skills of the members. It is also a means of raising funds through
advertisements. Priyanka Das created a beautiful cover depicting the bhogali
bhoj back home in the countryside.
The day is also celebrated as annual sports and competitions day. At 10:30 am
the childrens' painting competition was held. It was followed by various races
for children, ladies musical chair, tekeli bhonga- a traditional game in Asom
(breaking of earthen pot with a bamboo stick, while the person is blind
folded), senior citizen's walk, football between presidents and general
secretary's team. All these games brought keen healthy competition,
gamesmenship, laughter and fanfare and spirit of community feeling. A game of
tug of war was played in the late afternoon between the Association and
Luitporia boys.
By 2:00 pm the games and sports were over. Food coupons against contribution
were used to regulate fund flow and accountability. Food was laid out and
people queued up in orderly manner for their turn. Post lunch a programme of
Assamese songs was organized which was done on the backdrop of music by locally
assembled band Brahmaputra Rhythms. Gitimoni Hatikakoti, Angaraj Kakoti etc.
rendered beautiful songs. Later a competition of Biyanaam- traditional
marriage songs of Asom was organised. Manimugdha Sarma conducted a quick quiz
on Asom.
Almost all of the whos who of Assamese society in Delhi turned up. Chief
Justice M K Sharma of Delhi High Court, Pradip Hazarika, MLA and former
Minister, Hemoprabha Saikia with her family members and the regulars were
present amidst the participants.
The celebration ended with a round of tambola after the evening tea. It was
another memorable year, and general secretary Manoj Kumar Das thanked all the
sponsors who made the event possible through their generous contributions.
The participation is increasing day by day in this festival of harvest and
declaring culmination of winter. More than that for the busy bees of Delhi, it
is the annual opportunity to meet, network and exchange notes over the year,
and everyone looks forward to that.
Delhi has an Assamese population nearing about 50,000 including floating ones.
They are making their mark in all fields as keen and dependable professionals.
Delhi is the favourite destination of the young Assamese seeking quality
education and employment. The city's heterogeneous nature makes adaptation
easier. With connectivity increasing tremendously, home is not very far.
The current turmoil in Asom, had no effect on the celebrations.
---------------------------------
Heres a new way to find what you're looking for - Yahoo! Answers _______________________________________________
assam mailing list
[email protected]
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
