Rongali Bihu celebration at Bahrain

Rongali Bihu was celebrated at Bahrain with pomp and gaiety on 16th April at Hotel Phoenicia. The Assamese community at Bahrain, fondly called ‘Luitporia-Bahrainis’, started the preparation in all seriousness to make the celebration a grand success. The celebrations started with serving of Assamese delicacies specially prepared by the ladies at home.

The cultural program was formally inaugurated by Ms Nivedita Dutta. The inaugural chorus marked the beginning of the cultural show. Melodious solo performance of popular Assamese numbers by Manisha, Saswati, Jumi and Bobby were highly appreciated by the audience. Dance to the Jyoti Sangeet Muraa Bhaarotora performed by Nibedita, RajLakshmi and Monita was the highlight of the evening. Budding musicians Angshumaan and Jyotishmaan kept the audience spell bound for a few moments. The loudest applauds of the evening was showered to a costume show performed by the little children aged between 1 to 10 years who enacted the various ethnic groups of Assam through their costumes. They were Renee, Angshuman, Aryan, Snigdha, Reet, Jyotishmaan, Geet, Abhik, Amu, Tanisha, Emon, Raina and Ipshita. A chorus to the famous Bhupen Hazarika number ‘Axom Aamar Rupohi was sung by the same children. A game show, conducted by Pinky, took everyone’s breath away with her with and wit.

A bihu medley, sung by Manisha, Biman, Pinky, Hemanta, Sangita and Amitabh was highly entertaining. Bihu dance to a popular number, performed by Moromi, Riti, Manisha and Jumi marked the end of the cultural evening . Ujjwal, Arnab and Raju were the musicians supporting the singers throughout the show. The stage and the hall had excellent decoration to compliment the festival and the credit goes to Ankur and Amitabh, Pradip, Ujjwal and Nivedita.

The cultural evening was co-hosted by Sanjib Changkakati and Saswati Borah who provided a true ‘Bihu Toli’ ambience with their wit and oratory. To quote a bachelor “I felt like enjoying a bihu function in Guwahati”. Vote of thanks was given by Layan Chandra Hazarika.

The preparation for the Rongali Bihu Celebration is worth mentioning here. It all started sometime in mid-February by an email by our own Nita bou/ba/mami where she reminded that not many days are left for the bihu and it was time to tighten our belts and prepare. The enthusiastic Luitporia Bahrainis decided to meet in Central Café to jot down the modalities for the celebration. It was decided that Ujjwal and Arnab shall be in charge of the cultural aspects, Pradip and Amitabh for the infrastructure, Sanjib & Saswati will do the anchoring, Layan will do the Vote of Thanks. The ladies shall compliment in all aspects. The rehearsal sessions during the weekends were fun-filled and took place across the country to add local flavor to the show.

The most enthusiastic lot were the pretty ladies of the land namely Moromi, Charu Prabha, Pori, Riti, Mimi, Jumi, Pinky, Sangita, Manisha, Monita, Sangita, Munmun, Nagma, Inky, Bobby & Vandana who not only managed their homes, but also actively took part in organizing the show.

The celebrations ended with a sumptuous dinner serving Assamese culinary delights.

The Luitporia Bahrainis re-live the 16th April through sharing of photographs, videos and analyzing the performances.

The author, from a very reliable source, came to know that there will be a Bohagi Bidai! The show has just begun.

Sanjib Changkakati
Bahrain