[Assam] Silpi Divas, Magh Bihu celebrated in UK (The Assam Tribune, 28.01.2008)

[Buljit Buragohain]

                Silpi Divas, Magh Bihu celebrated in UK
 GUWAHATI, Jan 27 – The 57th Silpi Divas and Bhogali Bihu were celebrated in a befitting manner in the UK on January 19 under the auspices of the Asam Sahitya Sabha UK (ASSUK).

The sound of Jyoti Sangeet and Bihu song and dance reverberated around the familiar venue ADC Hall in Leicester city.

People of different nationalities from various parts of the UK, plus guests from Assam, created a festive ambience.

The programme began after serving Bihu fare: tilor laru, narikolor laru, tilpitha and ghilapitha, chira-doi, maah prasad and various savouries prepared by Neera Borkakoti, Sahida Haque, Rumi Das, Surovi Lahon and Manjira and Tarun Chowdhury.

Gagon Hazarika, president of ASSUK, welcomed everyone and explained the significance of Silpi Divas and Magh Bihu and the role of meji. 

Hazarika said that Jyotiprasad Agarwala was a multifaceted genius and an enormous contributor to Assamese literature and culture, in addition to filmmaking. Agarwala was also a patriot and a freedom fighter. A man of substance, Agarwala’s death on January 17 is observed as Silpi Divas, the title Rupkonwar was conferred on him.

Ideals held by Jyotiprasad are all the more relevant in today’s troubled times the world over and Assam in particular where diverse forces are breaking the world apart, Hazarika said.

The other speaker was Prabin Hazarika, who described the early days of his life at Tezpur under the shadow of Jyotiprasad, Bishnu Rabha and Phoni Sharma, and in particular Jyotiprasad’s contribution to Assamese literature and culture. He recited a self-composed poem on the occasion.

The cultural function began with a Jyotisangeet (Luitorey paani jaabi o boi) sung in chorus by Manjira Chowdhury, Surovi Lahon, Puspa Hazarika, Geetika Saikia, Malabika Sharma and Rupali Barooah. The attraction of the cultural show was presentation of Jyotisangeet, Rabhasangeet, Bihugeet, Goalporia lookageet, modern songs and dances by Samyami Chowdhury, Geetika Saikia, Malabika Sharma, Suravi Lahon, Rehanna Kheshgi, Oiki Cheung, Mouchumi Devi and Rupali Barooah. Instrumentals (violin) were presented by masters Rondeep, Ronjan Barua and Jitten Borkakoti.

The highlights of the evening were presentation of Bihu dances by Samyami and Oiki Cheung, a Chinese young lady from Hong Kong and a bihugeet by Rehanna Kheshgi, a non-Assamese young lady from the USA, and dances presented by Rupali Barooah. The cultural programme was compered by Shankar Sharma, and the keyboard and tabla support was provided by Mitam Barooah and Rishi Chowdhury, respectively

Before the bihu feast was served, salagor sarai was offered by Manjira Chowdhury, secretary of ASSUK to all those who attended and appreciated the hard work done by the organisers and helpers which made the function a grand success. The festivities came to an end with the traditional Assamese Bihu feast, which included the typical Assamese delicacies.
            



















  
   
   (The Assam Tribune,28.01.2008)



       
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