Thousands throng Bihutolis

GUWAHATI, April 13: A cloudy weather since this morning failed to dampen the festive spirits of the people of Assam as the celebration of the Assamese new year festival Rongali Bihu got under way with traditional gaiety. Braving the inclement weather, thousands of people thronged the Bihutolis in the city to enjoy themselves till late in the night as prominent artistes of the State performed cultural programmes in the Bihutolis. Noted singer and the Sangeet Natak Akademi chairman Bhupen Hazarika is the star attraction in Guwahati as the people are eagerly waiting for his stage performance. To keep with the time, steps have been initiated by private channels to go for live telecast of the Bihu programmes to enable the people to enjoy the cultural programmes in the comfort of their homes. The Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani is celebrating its golden jubilee at the Latasil Playground with a five-day programme from today. The golden jubilee celebration of the Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani got under way with the hoisting of the flag amidst fanfare by Bhupen Hazarika. He also laid the foundation stone of a permanent gate at the Latasil playground and tributes were paid to the persons involved with the sanmilani since its early days. Dance troupes representing the ethnic groups of Assam performed their colourful traditional dances as a part of the inaugural programme, much to the enjoyment of the spectators Hazarika was the star attraction in the cultural festival at the Latasil playground this evening as thousands of people from all corners of the city flocked to Latasil to enjoy the performance of Hazarika. The Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani which proposed to confer the Luit Ratna title on legendary Bhupen Hazarika at 7 this evening, could not confer the title till 9 pm due to the non-arrival of Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The eminent artiste was kept waiting in the Bihutoli pandal for couple of hours. The All Guwahati Students' Union (AGSU) today organised 'Mukoli Bihu' at the Judges Field. Where a number of prominent Bihu troupes from different parts of the state treated the spectators with their performance. The presence of several prominent artistes of the state added to the attraction of the programme. Eminent folk-lore expert Birendra Nath Dutta hoisted the flag to start-off the celebrations. Speaking on the occasion, Dutta called upon all sections of people to work for transforming the society into a prosperous and peaceful one. He called upon the people to take a pledge in this regard during the Bihu celebrations. Hoisting the AASU flag, the AASU president Prabin Boro stressed the urgent need for reviving the age-old traditions. The AGSU also felicitated five prominent personalities- litterateur Apurba Sarma, Tirtha Phukan, Abani Hazarika, Girish Choudhury and Dhanodhai Raul Chetri. The programme was compared by noted actress Molaya Goswami. The traditional dance and 'dhulia' performances were so captivating that even the spectators too joined in and enjoyed themselves in the true spirit of the Assamese new year festival.