GUWAHATI: In view of Rongali Bihu festivities in April, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma requested Bihu organisers not to force businesses for donations.
Further, the state government has also announced a grant of Rs 1.5 lakh to Bihu committees that are over 10 years old and to hold Bihu functions in the first week of Bohag month.
Earlier, prominent Bihu celebration committees of the city have welcomed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's call for organizing Bihu functions without collecting donations from traders but sought the Government's assistance to continue the celebration of the foremost cultural festival of Assam.
Talking to The Sentinel, Kailash Sarma, adviser of the Latasil Bihu Sanmilani, mentioned that the urban Bihu functions started in Assam at the Latasil ground in 1952 through an initiative taken by some noted personalities. He said that since Bohag Bihu is the centuries-old cultural backbone of the people of Assam.
On the other hand, Rajen Bora, president of the Greater Guwahati Bihu Coordination Committee, said that they are also opposed to a forcible collection of donations for Bihu functions. He said that their Bihu functions are organized with funds provided voluntarily by people. Many people come and hand over their donations personally, he said, adding that some other people take offence if they are not asked to contribute their mite for organizing Bihu functions.
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