A CORRESPONDENT
LAKHIMPUR: The people of Assamese community in Lakhimpur, along with the rest of the State, celebrated the agriculture related spring festival Bohag Bihu or Rangali Bihu, which is also called Xaat Bihu, since Wednesday amid the melodious songs of the kuli (cuckoo) and keteki (Ceylon hawk cuckoo) and the blended notes of Bihu naam with dance form, along with the traditional-musical instruments like dhol, pepa, gagana and sutuli glorifying the ideology of unity among different native communities of the State regardless of their backgrounds, caste and creed, religion and languages.
This year, the panic situation caused by the second surge of COVID-19 pandemic impacted the enthusiasm of the people and outshined the festive mood. However, the people celebrated the festival, which is the 'life line of the Assamese community'.
On Wednesday, Goru Bihu, the first day of Rongali Bihu, was celebrated following the traditions. On that day in the morning, the cattle of the village were brought to the water sources collectively. Then they were washed with a combination of symbolic herbs like maah-halodhi, whipped with dighloti, makhioti, tonglati and pieces of lau (bottle gourd) and bengena (brinjal), by singing some traditional songs, thereby praying for their upkeep in the upcoming year. On the same day, the farmers of the villages typically set ready for the cultivation in the upcoming rainy season and started the cultivation work by sowing seeds of the crops symbolically. On the other hand, the village people started performing husori in each and every household wishing for the peace, prosperity of the family members. This tradition of conducting husori as well as mukoli Bihu will continue for the next five days.
On Thursday, 'Manuh Bihu' was celebrated with due fun and festivities along with traditional formalities. This day, with the first day of the month of Bohag, also marked the beginning of the new year of Assamese calendar. On this day, people offered prayers at the namghars and other temples in order to get blessings from the Almighty for a healthy and prosperous life. The young members of the family sought blessings from the elders in the family and the family members presented the ceremonial Bihuwan or the gamosa or other new attires to the near and dear ones.
The largest literary organization of the world, Axam Xahitya Xabha (AXX), has been observing the day of Manuh Bihu as Nijar Din for years. The Lakhimpur District Xahitya Xabha and the branch units of the AXX also observed the titled day by organizing due programmes to fete the prominent figures who contribute much to build the society and to ameliorate the community.
In this connection, the Telahi Kamalaboriya Sakha Xahitya Xabha, one of the active branch units of the AXX, feted Sarunath Borah of Khaga area and Rabiram Borah of Kalita Gaon on Thursday at their residences respectively. On this occasion, the felicitation programme was held at Sarunath Borah's residence under the management of secretary Mintu Sarmah in the presence of the dignitaries of the literary body. The programme started with the lighting of ceremonial lamp by poet Haren Hazarika and a song sung by Dhyanshish Borah. Former president Prashanta Kumar Borah and artiste Satyanath Phukan highlighted the biography and social contributions of Sarunath Borah and Rabiram Borah respectively in the separate programmes. Both persons were feted with gamosa, cheleng sador, bundle of books and citation given by Axam Xahitya Xabha and Telahi Kamalaboriya Sakha Xahitya Xabha. Cultural programmes were also held with the performances of songs, creative dance items and Bihu dance items on this occasion in the residences of both feted figures.
On the other hand, observing the Nijar Din, Uttar Lakhimpur Xahitya Xabha feted national award winner science writer, academician Dr. Amiya Rajbonshi, literary figure-dramatist Ghana Hazarika, educationist-cultural activist Rameswar Gogoi and educationist-social activist Manik Chandra Gogoi. President Premananda Howborah, vice-president Dipak Hazarika, secretary Tilak Deka and other dignitaries of the literary body took part in the programme.
Similarly, a delegation of Dhakuakhana Sakha Xahitya Xabha, comprising of president Bidya Dutta, secretary Dr. Jitu Jumar Chamua and other office bearers, feted writer-poet Joychandra Hazarika, social activist Parama Phukan, academician Kumud Chandra Gogoi and social activist Bijay Konwar by observing the Nijar Din.