-By Usha Sarma and Jeena Mahanta
Like previous years, Houston Assamese community Rongali Bihu 2013 celebration was yet another grand success. Thanks for active participation by folks from Dallas, Austin, Edinburgh, College Station and even from Louisiana, California, Ohio and Atlanta the fun was even greater. Organizers Pallabi and Anupam Das, Gautam Borthakur, and a number of others deserve kudos from the community for their tremendous hard work.
The day long event started with Bihu flag hoisting, singing "Srimoee Asamir sital bukut". It was followed by an elaborate breakfast "Bihu Jalpan" with varities of pitha_pana coordinated by Sangeeta Borah and Pallbi Das. As always, ladies "pitha-pana" competition was a great success.
Ever enthusiast Lohit Datta-Baruah together with Mike Fincke conducted sport activities for children and adults including Easter Egg Hunt. Anupam Das took the baton from Lohit for the future, with promise that Lohit will continue to be an adviser in this favorite category. Meanwhile, “Baby Bezbaruah Running Trophy” for Pitha-Pona contest was coordinated by Roopa Baruah. Trophy went to Manashi Saikia. Face painting and Jetuka by Sushma Chetri and Vedajyoti Ozah were big hits, particularly among the children.
Following individual and community recognitions were made: High school graduate: Anjalee Angie Choudhury, College Graduates: Aanika Das and Timothy Das and Indrany Datta-Barua (Medical Doctor), Achievement: Nabanjan Das, Ranu Dutta, Service: Pankaj Panging and Jonali Barua, Service: Barada Sarma, Achievement: Mike Fincke, Parul Hazarika, and Rajen Barua. Morning program was concluded by enjoying home cooked lunch coordinated by Archana Parashar, Barnasha Deka and Sangeeta Bora, and cooked by many.
The evening cultural program started on time in the packed hall, well decorated by Sangeeta Bora and Anita Borthakur. Anupam Das was certainly enjoying in handling the newly acquired community PA system. Cultural coordinator Dr. Gautam Borthakur opened the stage for children program. Orindom Mahanta emceed the children segment with able stage support from Bala Navaskar, Dhyan Deka, and Rubul Baruah, Children enthralled the audience opening up the evening progamme with "mukali bihu” led by Probha Saikia and Renita Fincke. Sugat, Jilmil, Riya, Jimly, Risha, Anvi, Riddhi, Prahlad, Meera, Sophia, Neel, Nishtha, Devika, Liya, Chandra, Tarali, Surya and other children performed a varities of items contributing to a lively evening. Dil Deka gathered all her “Assamese Learning” school children and adults and presented a delightful skit.
It was then time for a delicious catered dinner coordinated by Pallabi Das and Ajanta Baruah and served by Anita Borthakur, Dil Deka, Luku Deka, Manjula Datta-Barua, Reema Das, Roopa Baruah, and Usha Sarma, Members enjoyed machar tenga from Manjula Datta Baruah, Luku Deka, Dil Deka and Manashi Saikia, Bor tenga from Jeena & Roopa Baruah and Kaldil bhaji from Jeet Das. Kalyan Saikia, Rupam Bora, Jay Parashar, Dushyant, and Imran made sure that everybody enjoyed the tea and the sweets.
Anjana Bora from Dallas brought everybody into the Spring evening mood reciting her beautiful prose. Then enters Swastika Sharma who emceed the second segment of the cultural program. Reema Das sang her very own two popular songs followed by songs from Jit Das and Pankaj Panging. Jonali Panging's Satria nritya was wonderful. Duets by Rupa and Ashok Baruah, Sandeep and Priyakhi Bhattacharya and popular songs rendered by Usha Sarma and Nilotpola Das were well appreciated. While chorus from both Houston and Dallas were holding their ground, the highlight of the evening was the Bihu dance by Boby Mahanta, Barnasha Deka,Beda Oza, Manashi Saikia, Ambreen Imran. Bobby then entertained everybody with her solo bihu performance. Earlier in the evening she joined Nilkamal Mahanta in rendering a beautiful Borgeet. Mrs.Namita Hazarika from Assam entertained the audience reciting her own poem.
Following Vote of Thanks by Pallavi Das and reciting ‘O, Mor Aponar Daex…’concluded the Rongali Bihu 2013 celebration. The Houston community takes this opportunity to thank Jeena Mahanta for her behind the scene support to the organizers making this event a grand success.
