Entrepreneurs making traditional Assamese delicacies suffer losses due to lockdown

GUWAHATI: Due to lockdown imposed because of coronavirus pandemic, Rongali Bihu festival was not celebrated in its usual fashion in the state as a result of which entrepreneurs making traditional Assamese delicacies, such as pitha, suffered huge losses.

According to reports, money worth lakhs was lost as people stayed indoors and avoided mass gatherings.

Amidst the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, citizens celebrated Rongali Bihu with restraint.

In sync with the COVID-19 guidelines from the State administration the performance was reduced to bare minimum – just hoisting the Bihu Flag by five or less people and singing ‘Srimoi Axomir Sheetal Bukut Uthe…’

The Guwahati Bihu Committee and Latasil Bihu Ujjapan Committee celebrated the occasion by following the directives of the government and the State administration. The committees conducted the flag hoisting ceremony on April 13 with limited people.

The reknown Mukoli Bihu (Open Bihu) of the AASU (All Assam Students’ Union) was also not celebrated this year. The Pub Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan, Chandmari also resorted to a similar practice and followed the government’s directives. The body conducted a flag hoisting ceremony to celebrate the occasion.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal appealed to the people of the state to light a ‘diya’ on 14th April at 6 pm. Residents followed CM Sonowal’s appeal and houses across the State were illuminated with earthen lamps to mark the occasion.

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