-By Ganesh Deka

The Atlanta Assamese community would like to wish you all Rongali Bihur olag and a happy and healthy New Year.

On Saturday 14thApril, the Atlanta Assamese community celebrated this year’s Rongali Bihu with lots of fanfare. It was held in a club house and altogether 57 people attended the Utsav. We were happy to have several families from Alabama and Tennessee join in the celebration. The festivities began with the pitha competition, with participants delighting all with both sweet and savory dishes. After some delicious snacks and a few cups of tea, the children had fun during an outdoor Easter Egg Hunt, while the adults played tekeli bhanga. The evening cultural program started with a moment of silence in remembrance of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, followed by the opening chorus, Manuhe Manuhar Babe, sung by all. A few of our children also sang and danced beautifully to some of Bhupenda’s popular songs. The rest of the evening’s entertainment consisted of various dance performances, song recitals, and dramas. The entertaining dramas enacted by some of our community’s comedians had audience members laughing throughout the night. Another highlight of the evening was the fashion show, where infants, children, and adults alike donned their ethnic attire on the runway. Food was catered from an Indian restaurant and was delicious. The night concluded with the annual Husori.