It is the festival of joy and happiness that breaks through the ethno-religious barriers. It is the most endearing festival for all the people of Assam - irrespective of caste, creed, religion, faith and belief. The Rongali Bihu is celebrated every year by the Assamese community of Greater Washington DC area with the usual regalia, pomp and gaiety. Wearing traditional attire, feasting on from pithas and larus to a grand Dinner and participating in colorful cultural extravaganza - complete with song and dance – the Assamese community celebrated this year’s Bihu at Germantown, MD on the 17th April, 2010 (3rd Bohag, 1933 Saka).
It was an evening to remember – the euphoria that is awaited by all kids and grownups alike for the whole year was a huge success. It included games for kids, ethnic snacks consisting of the aforementioned pithas and larus prepared by the ladies, cultural programs performed by the abundantly talented DC community kids and adults alike, culminating in a feast of delicious dinner.
Melodious solo performance of popular Assamese and Hindi numbers by Satyen Das, Barnali Deka, Anjana Bordoloi, Nipika Borah, Anurag Barua, Rabin and Arundhotee Goswami were highly entertaining for the audience. As usual, Rabin brought the house down with his songs and his rendition of Bhupen Hazarika – Md. Rafi jikir of “hoi sahib hoi” with his group was very enthralling. The ladies hit the dance floor once Anurag started his popular songs and foot tapping music. The crème de la resistance, the bihu dance, performed wonderfully by Anjana, Barnali, Lumbini, Anusha, Binita, Dhruba, Krishna, Anurag, Punit, and Pallav was of highest caliber. It was heartening to see eleven year old Anusha debuting in the Bihu dance and matching her grown up counterparts step for step. The Mukoli Bihu, always a crowd favorite, followed with almost everyone joining in. It went on for a long time before the function was completed by everyone singing the Assamese anthem “O mur Apunar dekh”. The dinner was memorable and was the menu was prepared by the connoisseur of good food, Ashraf. The stage and the hall had excellent decoration to compliment the festival and the credit goes to Punit, Dhruba, Amar and Arundhotee. The vote of thanks was blended with his ready wit by Amar Patgiri. Amar and Rabin also doubled up as the sound engineers for the evening. The community welcomed the new members. Labanya Baidew presented a memento to bid farewell to the Sarin Family who are returning to India after a successful stint in the US. This year Bihu was also marked by the absence of everyone’s beloved Dr. Jiten Borpujari who passed away to his heavenly abode on the 16th December 2009. Jitu da as he is popularly known was pivotal in building this community by hosting Bihu in his house for a number of years. He was missed by one and all.
