- Compiled by Iftikahr Ali anf Satyajit Nath
Like last year, the small Assamese community of the Pacific North West celebrated Rongali (Bohag) Bihu with greatjoy and vigor in Seattle, Washington on Saturday, the 17th of April, 2010. The venue of this year's Bohag Bihu, organized by Jetuka - the Assamese Community of the Greater Seattle area, was the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, 2 miles east of Microsoft's main campus. Although the excitement and euphoria of spring in Assam, and especially Rongali Bihu, cannot be completely replicated in Seattle, the Assamese Community here did not lack the spirit of Bihu revelry.
The affluence and abundant endowment of nature in Seattle during this time of the year was rightly reflected in the spirit of the Rongali Bihu celebrations. Seattle in spring is breathtaking. Gorgeous tulips and cherry trees covered with pink blossoms line many streets and meadows. Included in the natural beauty of Seattle are the spectacular Mount Rainier, unique temperate rain-forests, abundant forest trails, green hills, various types of wildflowers, and very brightly colored trees with green, red, and orange leaves in spring. With all the wonderful views, natural creations, and diversity in weather, seasons, and practically every aspect of life, Seattle is one of the most unforgettable and amazing scenic areas in the world in spring and is truly a delightful setting for celebrating Bihu with friends and family. The cultural program, that started at 6 PM, was youth-oriented and was kicked off by Sahl Ali (high school freshman) with his welcome speech. Sahl then took center stage to keep the programme events rolling smoothly for the rest of the evening. The opening song of the program was the chorus "Axom Aamaar Rupohi" sung by team Seattle, which set an upbeat tone for the rest of the evening. Deeprekha Debroy, Sujata Talukdar, and Latha Nath gave energetic and inspiring solo performances in Hindi and Assamese. These Seattle ladies, each with unique styles of singing, kept the audience on their toes. They were accompanied by Satyajit Nath and Amlan Chakraborty on the tabla, Mridul Gogoi on the keyboard, and Nayanjyoti Sarma on the guitar. Another group of Seattle ladies rocked the audience with their scintillating Bihu group dance. It was one of the most entertaining part of the programme and was performed by Sanghamitra Borgohain, Mapi Bose, Lonima Sarma, and Nandana Baruah. The children in their colorful Bihu costumes livened up the atmosphere. They demonstrated their talents by performing recitation, Bihu dance, fashion show, dances to modern songs, singing, and playing instrumental music including the piano and the flute. Niribili, Sachetan, Lana, Rishika, Riniki, Rhea, Ananya, Rishi, and Ruhi put up their best performances and it was a treat to watch them perform. Their talent, facial expressions, and dance moves were all noteworthy. Some of these kids even invented their own ways to entertain the audience. In addition to the cultural items, there were a few innovative pop-quiz questions, in between, that kept the audience engaged and made for a more intimate setting. The pop-quiz revolved around questions about Assam. The cultural programme culminated with a Husori that had the audience spellbound. It was performed by Amlan Chakraborty, Mridul Gogoi, Vavani Sarma, Nayanjyoti Sarma, Saranga Goswami, and Preetam Das. An elaborate and sumptuous home-cooked dinner followed the cultural program. It was prepared by all the participants and coordinated expertly by Mapi Bose and Shaheen Ali. From savory snacks, delicious entrees including many Assamese dishes, and amazing desserts, participants enjoyed dinner thoroughly. It was a truly wonderful evening for everyone, and participants left with great memories of the event. More than 70 people participated on the occasion including several families who drove over 150 miles from the Portland, Oregon area. There were quite a few special guests as well, namely Mrs. Sashi Prabha Borgohain, Mr. Kaliprasad Buragohain, Mrs. Indira Buragohain, Mrs. Hiran Rajkhowa, and Mrs. Rajani Prabha Das, who came all the way from Assam to be with their near and dear ones and be present in this very important and beautiful festival of Assam.