GUWAHATI: Rongali Bihu is being celebrated with restraints amid lockdown and COVID19 crisis in Assam. People of the state are observing Goru Bihu in accordance with tradition but maintaining social distancing and other COVID19 protocols. Goru Bihu is the first day of Rongali Bihu, which heralds spring and marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year. Though villagers are not organising community bathing of cattle this time, they are following the rituals on their premises.
On the day of Goru Bihu, after being bathed, the cattle are smeared with a mixture of turmeric and other herbs, cleaned with dighloti (a long, leafy plant) and garlanded with a new pogha (rope), before being brought back to the stable.
On the other hand, the Bihu Committees of the state cancelled all their cultural and public functions. Following the government directives, they are observing BIhu by hoisting the flag with maximum five people.
Guwahati unit of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) too cancelled its Mukoli Bihu at Judges’ Filed in Guwahati.
This is the only instance in living memory when the people in Assam have been compelled to give the festivities of Rongali Bihu a complete miss due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The only parallel one can draw dates back to 1983 when it remained a minimalist celebration during the peak of the Assam Movement but this year it is going to be a total.
Picture Courtesy: Dipankar Kalita
