Shillong, April 15: The air in Shillong resonated with the rhythms of dhol and the joyous spirit of Rongali Bihu as the Shillong Central Rongali Bihu Celebration Committee, Bishnupur, hosted its 69th annual celebration of the Assamese New Year.
The three-day event, rich in tradition and cultural unity, brought together people from diverse communities to revel in the colours of Bohag Bihu.
Speaking on the occasion, General Secretary Sunit Kumar Phukan highlighted the deep-rooted legacy of the festival. “First of all, I would like to talk about our Bihu. We have three main Bihus, and out of these, Bohag Bihu is the most important. It is a time of celebration,” he said.
“We’ve been celebrating Bihu since the committee’s inception, which was probably around 1940. This marks the 69th year of our celebrations.”
Phukan traced the celebration’s origins even further, acknowledging the role of earlier generations.
“Bihu marks the Assamese New Year and is deeply connected with life, nature, art, and culture. It is mainly celebrated by the younger generation through dance and music, and the atmosphere is one of peace and joy.”
Outlining the festival’s itinerary, Phukan noted that celebrations began on April 14 with a flag-hoisting ceremony attended by dignitaries from Shillong and across Meghalaya. The afternoon featured children’s games and other community events, culminating in prize distributions on the final day.
A highlight of the festivities was the array of cultural performances. “We invite Bihu troupes from Guwahati and other parts of Assam to perform traditional dances, especially the ‘History’, which is very important.
These groups, consisting of around 20 to 30 performers, are hosted with food and lodging for two nights,” he explained.
The evenings from April 14 to 16 lit up with music and dance, blending Assamese traditions with performances by artists from Meghalaya’s Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia communities. “It’s a community celebration that includes everyone,” Phukan emphasized. “We want to live together peacefully. That’s why we celebrate Bihu—because we invite people from all backgrounds. It brings everyone onto the same platform and fosters harmony.”
The cultural nights, held from 7 PM to 10 PM by local regulations, conclude with the grand prize distribution ceremony on April 16.
“All are welcome to our Bihu. I wish everyone peace and happiness, now and in the future. That’s the spirit and motto of Bihu—it brings brotherhood and sisterhood among us,” Phukan concluded, capturing the essence of unity that marked this year’s Rongali Bihu in Shillong.
Also Read: Rajya Sabha MP assures push for 80:20 Female-Male ratio in NEIGRIHMS nurse recruitment
Also Watch
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
