Over 500 young participants join Rongali Bihu training sessions in Guwahati, keeping tradition alive even as election buzz peaks
Guwahati, April 6: There’s an election in the air… but step into Chandmari’s Engineering Field in the evening, and it doesn’t feel like politics is leading the mood.
It’s the dhol first. Then the pepa. And then rows of young dancers, some barely taller than the instruments they follow, moving in rhythm. A little unsure, a little excited, completely immersed.
Because Rongali Bihu is coming. And in Assam, that changes everything.
Across Guwahati, preparations for Bohag Bihu are picking up pace. Workshops have come up across the city, with one of the largest organised by Pub Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani at Chandmari. It began on March 30 and continues till April 10.
More than 500 participants have enrolled so far, many of them children. Some are as young as three. Teenagers, college students, first-timers, all trying to get the steps right, the expressions softer, the timing just right.
Trainer Drimli Gogoi moves between groups, correcting posture, adjusting hand movements. Bihu, she reminds them, is not just steps. It is laya, rhythm. Bhangima, expression. And something more instinctive, feeling.
Organisers say the goal is simple but urgent. To make sure Bihu does not get diluted. That what reaches the stage still feels authentic.
This is also the 65th year of the celebration. There is an effort to scale up, bring in more structure, without losing the core. This time, rehearsals also carry the memory of Zubeen Garg, whose music remains closely tied to the spirit of Bihu.
A strong presence of young women stands out. Dressed in mekhla chador, they speak of opportunities and change, but also of pride in being part of something deeply Assamese.
And just beyond these grounds, the election campaign is in full swing. Speeches, rallies, promises continue to dominate the headlines.
But here, the focus is different. Getting the beat right. Not missing the turn. Holding on to something familiar.
For a few days, it feels like two Assams are moving side by side.
One preparing to vote while the other preparing to celebrate.
Also Read: Assam Polls 2026: Gogoi hits back at Sarma, raises Dubai ‘Gold Card’ questions
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