Basanta Baruah
(baruahbasanta14@gmail.com)
Rongali Bihu, the festival of mirth and merriment is on the threshold. Bihu, whether it's Rongali or Bhogali or Kati, is not just a festival, it's the lifeline of every Assamese. It revives our nationality and binds us with the rope of unity. It flows through the veins of every Assamese. Hence, Bihu is our identity, Bihu is the mirror of Assamese culture and it's rightly the national festival of Assam.
All three Bihus have some special features and importance. But it is seen that Assamese have some special attraction, special love for Rongali Bihu. People become jubilant, even nature becomes alive and changes its colour during this Bihu. Rongali Bihu brings colour and charm not only to nature but also to the minds of every Assamese. So, it's celebrated throughout the month of Bohag.
But it's truly upsetting that the thrill of Rangali Bihu is no more in our villages these days. It seems that the thrill of Rangali is missing from Assamese society day by day and Bihu, as a whole, has lost its charm and unique importance among the Assamese. It's indeed a matter of shame that a large section of Assamese people has no feelings, no emotions for Bihu. If we go to our villages, the picture becomes clear. There is no pre - Rongali thrill in our villages today. The thrilling sounds of dhol, Pepa, and gogona are rarely found in our villages these days. Performing Huchori or Bihu is becoming an outdated act for a large section of a new generation.
There was a time when the thrilling sound of dhul, taal, and Pepa brought a pre-Bihu thrill to our villages and made the whole environment Rongali from the month of Chot. During Bihu days, some local kids spent the whole week singing Huchori in the village. In the end, they organized a feast and with the remaining fund collected from huchori, they bought some playing tools. The youths and elders, on the other hand, sang huchori to raise funds for the development of village namghars, schools, libraries etc. In the end, they organized a community feast and all the villagers assembled there. These indeed strengthened the rope of unity among the villagers. A homely environment was truly found there. The villagers were seen waiting to welcome their village Huchori. All wanted to have the blessings from the Huchori group. That's why the village huchori had some special kind of importance.
But today, the picture is completely changed. People have no time for Bihu. They have no time to think about culture. A new generation has no love, no respect for culture and tradition. Instead, they are busy with social media. It's indeed a harsh reality that mobile culture has completely changed the mentality of a new generation.
It's true to a great extent that the price rise of essential commodities has compelled the poorer section to stay away from cultural activities. They can't think of anything else except to earn their livelihood. But the section, who can think, pays no heed to culture and tradition. For a large number of this section, all these are even a waste of time, nothing more than that. They even don't allow their children to involve in cultural activities. They are so selfish, so materialistic that they run only after money.
There is no doubt that today's purchasing power of people is increasing. Crowded markets and shopping malls are vivid examples of this fact. But parents don't buy dhul, Pepa etc., for their children. Rather they give their children an android mobile phone. Our local musical instruments are neglected today. It seems that a large number of our people have started to underestimate our local musical instruments which are closely connected to our culture. It's indeed unfortunate and a matter of serious concern.
Our food habits and dressing style have changed to a great extent. Chira, pitha, aakhoi, muri, and hurum are not prepared locally in most homes today. A new generation has no idea about a bhui, na khua, sunga saul, sunga pitha, Sewa dia saul etc. Rice is provided at Rs.1 per kg to the below poverty section. So, they pay no heed to traditional rice cultivation. As there is no cultivation, some events are indeed missing from the Assamese society. Instead, new generations are attracted to pizza, burgers, chowmins etc.
The sound of "Tant xaal" (handloom) is disappearing in the Assamese society. Most of the girls don't know how to weave Gamosa. Offering Gamosa to loved ones used to be a part of our culture. But today it's almost missing from Assamese society. It's truly unfortunate that gamosa, which is indeed a pride of the Assamese people, which gives a special identity to the Assamese, which is closely connected to our culture, is brought from outside Assam.
It's often seen that in the name of nationalism, a section of people shows great sentiments. Raising the issue of providing a safeguard to the indigenous people of the state, a section becomes the leader of some organizations and some political parties. But as soon as they get power, they become selfish and forget everything.
It's seen that most of the Assamese people pay no heed to our local festivals, local musical instruments and local artists. Rather they prefer some other festivals like Durga Puja, Diwali etc. To accept the bright side of others can never be bad. But to forget one's own identity in the name of so-called modernization, can never be an ideal concept. Bihu is indeed the backbone and identity of Assamese culture. Being a so-called modern, if one ignores traditional Bihu or one's roots, it's sure that he will lose his own identity. We, the common Assamese are too emotional. But it's also true that our emotions are very temporary and we are not farsighted. We have been cheated, exploited, divided. All these are possible because we have no unity.
It's time to reunite and Bihu is the only medium that can reunite us and bind us with the rope of unity. Let's celebrate Rongali Bihu with great enthusiasm and accelerate the process of nation-building.