The three-day annual ‘Rongali’ or ’Bohag’ Bihu festival heralding Assamese New Year began today with traditional merrymaking and celebrations across the state.
Assam Governor J. B. Patnaik and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi wishing the people on the occasion hoped it will be celebrated in the spirit of universal brotherhood promoting the ethos of unity amongst all communities of the state.
The festival, usually associated with the preparation of paddy fields for the coming sowing season, has moved from the rural ambience to the urban stage with almost all localities here organising Bihu sanmilanis and the festivities continue for nearly a month.
All Assam Students’ Union(AASU) has organised ‘Mukoli Bihu’ (Open Bihu) at the Judges’ Field in which cultural functions were held and and several prominent personalities felicitated.
The first day of the Bihu, which falls on the last day of the Hindu month ‘Chaitra’, is called ‘Goru (cow) Bihu’ as farmers take their cattle to water bodies for a wash and smear them with ground turmeric and urge them to be healthy and productive.
