Rongali Bihu celebrations get underway in Shillong

SHILLONG, April 13: The unfurling of the pat silk Bihu flag by Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong marked the inauguration of the three day-long Rongali Bihu celebrations at the Meghalaya Rongali Bihu Sanmilan at Asom Kristi Kendra here today. It was in the true spirit of Bihu festivity and bonhomie that none minded the fact that the flag was fluttering upside down! Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister hoped that the Bihu festivities would further cement the brotherly relations between the people of Meghalaya and Assam. He also declared that his government would extend all possible financial help to further improve the 600 seating capacity auditorium of the Kendra. He also released the 29th edition of the Bihutoli's souvenir Kapauphul. Padmashri MC Bordoloi and Abala Kanta Sarma, former director, Agriculture Department, Meghalaya, were felicitated by the Chief Minister. The mukali Bihu started with young girls dancing in merriment but as the tempo rose with the beat of the drums and pipes, several married women joined in the dance. In what is unthinkable in the Bihutoli's elsewhere, every one present were served 'Bihu prasad' (the term coined by the organisers) comprising laru, pitha and chira-doi-gur. Mawlong, who was on a fast on account of Good Friday today, surprised the audience by sitting through the entire two hour-long function. Sanmilan president, Mukunda Roy Choudhury called on the Assamese residents in the city to build bridges of understanding with all communities living in the state capital. The secretary, Jotin Dutta, expressed gratefulness to Mawlong for declaring April 15 as a holiday in Meghalaya on account of Rongali Bihu. The souvenir was scheduled to be released by Bolin Bordoloi, the youngest son or Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi but he arrived two hours late after the meeting was declared closed. The organisers, however, gracefully organised another meeting to accommodate him. Rongali Bihu is also being celebrated with a three day-long programme by the Central Rongali Bihu Sanmilan at Laban. The Vice Chancellor of Northeastern Hill University, Mrinal Miri hoisted the Bihu flag of the Sanmilan this morning.