- Reported by Binapani Sarmah, Photographs by Chandan Phukan 

Assamese community in the North Eastern United States assembled at the Kingston Presbyterian Church on Route 27 in Kingston, New Jersey to celebrate Magh Bihu, on Saturday, January 14, 2012.  Weather was sunny, with an average mid-January temperature without any snow on the ground. As a result, almost 150 people from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut gathered to celebrate the blissful event.  Several new members joined the community who brought a new and additional delight to the occasion.  It was a fun filled get together of the Assamese diaspora, many extending their family ties to a broader and multicultural ethnicity. 

The day began with the traditional and some innovative snacks consisting of Chira dai, Pitha, Laroo, sweets, samosa, donuts, etc.  Around 4:00 PM children started playing their favorite games, such as musical chair, spoon race, and dress run. Then, young and adult alike joined in a quiz competition consisting of rich heritage of Assam/India, conducted by Diganta Barman. Games were followed by a cultural program showcasing talents of young and adults by dancing, singing and even telling jokes. Another new facet of this year’s festivities included an appreciation of home cooked food through a friendly food cooking skills competition. New members to the community who attended the festivities introduced themselves to the attendees. Tej Hazarika, son of the Late Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, spoke about the foundation started in Assam in memory of  Dr. Hazarika.

The Magh Bihu was concluded with a sumptuous Assamese dinner consisting of home cooked mutton curry, chicken curry, fish curry, khar, bagena poora, saag, and many more traditional dishes. In addition, there was a full assortment of desserts including payash, mithai, cake, orange delight. The food was prepared by many dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers from the Assamese community and coordinated ably by community members, Sudeepa Barbara and Moni Hazarika.

Needless to mention, the celebration of this year’s Magh Bihu provided the opportunity to the Assamese community to reinforce the belief and commitment to the centuries old culture and tradition from back home in motherland Assam. The community is ardently getting ready to celebrate the most anticipated affair, the Rongali Bihu (Assamese New Year) in the mid April.