Silpi Divas, Magh Bihu celebrated in UK
GUWAHATI, Jan 27 The 57th Silpi Divas and Bhogali Bihu were celebrated in a
befitting manner in the UK on January 19 under the auspices of the Asam Sahitya
Sabha UK (ASSUK).
The sound of Jyoti Sangeet and Bihu song and dance reverberated around the
familiar venue ADC Hall in Leicester city.
People of different nationalities from various parts of the UK, plus guests
from Assam, created a festive ambience.
The programme began after serving Bihu fare: tilor laru, narikolor laru,
tilpitha and ghilapitha, chira-doi, maah prasad and various savouries prepared
by Neera Borkakoti, Sahida Haque, Rumi Das, Surovi Lahon and Manjira and Tarun
Chowdhury.
Gagon Hazarika, president of ASSUK, welcomed everyone and explained the
significance of Silpi Divas and Magh Bihu and the role of meji.
Hazarika said that Jyotiprasad Agarwala was a multifaceted genius and an
enormous contributor to Assamese literature and culture, in addition to
filmmaking. Agarwala was also a patriot and a freedom fighter. A man of
substance, Agarwalas death on January 17 is observed as Silpi Divas, the title
Rupkonwar was conferred on him.
Ideals held by Jyotiprasad are all the more relevant in todays troubled times
the world over and Assam in particular where diverse forces are breaking the
world apart, Hazarika said.
The other speaker was Prabin Hazarika, who described the early days of his life
at Tezpur under the shadow of Jyotiprasad, Bishnu Rabha and Phoni Sharma, and
in particular Jyotiprasads contribution to Assamese literature and culture. He
recited a self-composed poem on the occasion.
The cultural function began with a Jyotisangeet (Luitorey paani jaabi o boi)
sung in chorus by Manjira Chowdhury, Surovi Lahon, Puspa Hazarika, Geetika
Saikia, Malabika Sharma and Rupali Barooah. The attraction of the cultural show
was presentation of Jyotisangeet, Rabhasangeet, Bihugeet, Goalporia lookageet,
modern songs and dances by Samyami Chowdhury, Geetika Saikia, Malabika Sharma,
Suravi Lahon, Rehanna Kheshgi, Oiki Cheung, Mouchumi Devi and Rupali Barooah.
Instrumentals (violin) were presented by masters Rondeep, Ronjan Barua and
Jitten Borkakoti.
The highlights of the evening were presentation of Bihu dances by Samyami and
Oiki Cheung, a Chinese young lady from Hong Kong and a bihugeet by Rehanna
Kheshgi, a non-Assamese young lady from the USA, and dances presented by Rupali
Barooah. The cultural programme was compered by Shankar Sharma, and the
keyboard and tabla support was provided by Mitam Barooah and Rishi Chowdhury,
respectively
Before the bihu feast was served, salagor sarai was offered by Manjira
Chowdhury, secretary of ASSUK to all those who attended and appreciated the
hard work done by the organisers and helpers which made the function a grand
success. The festivities came to an end with the traditional Assamese Bihu
feast, which included the typical Assamese delicacies.
(The Assam Tribune,28.01.2008)
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