LAKHIMPUR: The celebration of the Phat Bihu-2023 in Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur district concluded with success on Sunday. Like the previous years, the Phat Bihu, the unique convergence of ethnic culture of the State, was celebrated with three-day long colourful programmes from May 12 to May 14 at the beautiful landscape of the Mohghuli Chapori, located on the bank of Charikoriya River, which is termed as lifeline of Dhakuakhana people.
As per second day agenda of the festival, plantation of Kapou Phool and saplings of invaluable trees of various species was held at first. The programme was inaugurated by Debajit Phukan, an environmental activist, who won ‘Parivesh Mitra’ award from the Government of Assam. It was followed by gamosa competition which was inaugurated by retired head mistress Labanya Saikia. Competition on Husari by adults, which was open for all the castes and communities of Assam, commenced from 12:00 pm. The event was inaugurated by noted ‘Bihuwa’ Khagen Gogoi, who presented several Bihu-Nam during the course of his inaugural lecture. “The indigenous tribes and communities of Assam has celebrated the Phat Bihu for years coming together with strong bond of harmony and integration without showing any segregated attitude,” Khagen Gogoi said in his lecture.
On the other hand, noted journalist-cum-novelist, editor of weekly ‘Sadin’, Anuradha Sarmah Pujari ceremonially released the ‘Bihuwan’, the souvenir of the festival, edited by Swarnalata Gogoi Chamuah. Anuradha Sarmah Pujari appealed to the people of Dhakuakhana to carry on the celebration of the Phat Bihu by securing and preserving the unique characteristics of the historic festival. “That Bihu is the lifeline of the Assamese community, it cannot be imagined without witnessing or enjoying or being a part of the celebration at Mohghuli Chapori of Dhakuakhana,” she said while appreciating prominent intellectual figure Homen Borgohain for taking Phat Bihu to the knowledge of public in wider level through his writings. On the same day, a host of Bihu exponents and progressive farmers were also feted in connection with the celebration of the festival.
On the other hand, Mohghuli Chapori, the Phat Bihu Bakori (celebration venue) witnessed a sea of people on the concluding day on Sunday. From the morning, people from across Lakhimpur district and other districts of the State assembled in the Bihu Bakori. On that day, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma arrived at the Mohghuli Chapori to be a part of the celebration and addressed the big rally. Overwhelmed with the sight, the Chief Minister said that the people of Dhakuakhana had been carrying on the original forms in celebrating the Bihu, enriched with communal harmony and bond of brotherhood. Then the agenda of the festival on the concluding day began with a colourful cultural rally which was inaugurated by popular actress Geetawali Rajkumari. Along with the thousands of Dhakuakhana people, a total of 63 cultural teams from almost all the castes and communities living in the State, representing their folk culture and showcasing the message of ‘Unity in Diversity’, took part in the cultural procession. The procession also showcased the cultural and historical heritage of Assam through various tableaux. The cultural procession was followed by the Mukali Bihu competition, wherein more than fifty cultural teams participated. Then the open meeting commenced with Phat Bihu Samiti president Basanta Saikia. Writer-cum-acadrmician Dr. Anjan Jyoti Choudhury graced the occasion as appointed speaker. A galaxy of cultural activists and prominent personalities of various fields took part in the programme. Cultural teams from various parts of the State participated in the three-day long programmes of the festival.
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