Bihu, Covid and examinations

Assam has recently witnessed a very unusual debate centering around Rongali Bihu and the fresh Covid wave. While the government tried its best to restrict the cultural programmes organised simultaneously during the first three or four days of Rongali Bihu, a section of people literally went all out to defy the restrictions intended at preventing large-scale of Covid infection. Such has been the attitude of a section of organisers of such so-called Bihu 'functions' that they even accused the government of trying to 'interfere' with traditional Bihu celebrations. The reality is that these so-called Bihu 'functions' do not in any manner represent the traditional Bihu culture. Real and original traditional Rongali Bihu comprises activities like bathing the cattle (Goru Bihu) on the last day of the outgoing Assamese year, holding prayers in the Naam-ghar, paying respect to elders, wearing and gifting new cloth and hand-woven gamosa, and singing husori from house to house, etc. Real, original and traditional Rongali Bihu is not about performing husori on the stage. Real, original and traditional Rongali Bihu is not about collecting – often forcibly – donations. Real, original and traditional Rongali Bihu is not about singing non-Bihu songs. Real, original and traditional Rongali Bihu is about observing the New Year by celebrating Nature, humanity and brotherhood through community activities. Another aspect which a section of so-called Bihu 'function' organisers have failed to appreciate – and also refused to understand – is that several lakh students are currently preparing for their Class X and Class XII Board finals. These examinations are crucial phases of one's life and career, and it is the community's sacred duty and responsibility to create an environment in which young students can make their best and final round of preparations for the crucial Board examinations. It is strange that a section of organizers of the so-called Bihu 'functions' – particularly in Guwahati – gave priority to using high-decibel sound systems as part of their so-called Bihu 'celebrations', which have definitely caused huge disturbance to the lakhs of young students currently preparing for their Board final examinations. A section of self-styled and irresponsible political leaders also joined the bandwagon favouring Bihu 'functions' beyond 11 PM, thus exposing that they are least bothered about the future generation of the state. Most people – and 100 per cent parents whose children are preparing for the Class X and XII finals – definitely do not see any reason behind organizing such high-decibel Bihu 'functions' even during the early evening hours when the HSLC and HSSLC final examinations are around. Moreover, it smacks of petty and cheap politics when one tries to mix up election rallies held before April 4 and the new spate of Covid infections occurring about a week after that.