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In fact it was Latasil Field which had has
made its mark in history by being the first field to have
hosted the Bihu dance by borrowing the trend from the villages
and bringing it to the city.
The
rural festival made its transition to urban life when it was
for the first time brought to the stage in Latasil field in
Guwahati by the Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani in 1962, promoted
by leading citizens like Radha Govinda Baruah and others.
Unlike the rural version where the dancers performed on a
natural backdrop, here the dancers danced on a makeshift elevated
stage in an open area that came to be known as a Bihutoli.
As time passed numerous such Bihutolis came up in an around
the city like the Chandmari Bihutoli, Rajgarh Bihutoli, Bhorolu
Bihutoli, etc. The performances are not confined to the Bihu
dance form, but may incorporate all forms of theatrical performances
to keep the audience enthralled well into the early hours.
Performances could include stand-up comedy, to concerts by
solo singers. The stage form of Bihu has become so popular,
that organizers have begun extending the celebrations to Bohagi
Bidai, or farewell to the Bohag month, which are similar performances
held a month later. Bihu dance competitions like the Bihu
Kuori, Buari Bihu, Husori competion etc are organized in such
bihutolis.
The
folk songs associated with Bohaag Bihu are known as Bihugeets.
Bihugeet is symbolic of communication of love and romance
among the village youth and the village belles. The dances
are accompanied by traditional Assamese instruments like the
Dhol (the Drum), Pepa, Gagana, Toka, etc.
The
Bihu dance is an inherent part of Rongali Bihu. It is also
a fertility festival, where the Bihu dance with its sensuous
movements using the hips, arms, etc, by the young women call
out to celebrate their fertility. In this aspect, the Bihu
Bance can also be called a mating ritual by the young men
and women. There are very few Assamese who wouldn’t want to
break into a dance once they hear the rhythmic Bihugeet. Another
such exciting dance is the Bhangra of the Punjabis, which
has a similar effect on people.
‘Husori’
is an indispensable part of the Rangali Bihu. It is one of
the several functions celebrated in the Rangali Bihu festival.
It is sung on the very first day of Goru Bihu. On that day,
at night, the youngmen,under the guidance of the elders, go
from house to house singing a kind of Bihu song known as ‘Husori’.
In
rural areas village elders move from household to households
singing carols, also in the style of Bihugeets, called husoris.
It possibly derives from the Dimasa Kachari word formation
‘ha’ (land) and ‘char’ (move over): hachari. Villages could
have more than one Husori band, and they would visit households
in a village non-contiguous to itself, first singing carols
at the Naamghar. The Husori singers then visit individual
households, by first announcing their arrival at the gate
(podulimukh) with drum beats. The singers are traditionally
welcomed into the courtyard where they sing the husori songs
and perform a ring dance. At the end of the performance they
are thanked with an offering of tamul in a xorai, whereupon
the singers bless the household for the coming year. If there
is bereavement in the family, or the family does not invite
the Husori singers due to an illness, the Husori band offers
blessings from podulimukh and move on. Generally the singers
are all male.
Showing
respect to the ‘Husori’ team, each family of the village honour
the team with a piece of ‘Cheleng’ cloth, one beautifully
designed ‘Gamocha’ and a few rupees. ‘Husori’ is sung for
about a week. The money collected by singing the ‘Husori’
is often spent on the developmental work of the village. Female
dancers also participate in the Husori these days unlike old
times.
My
childhood was spent sitting in the first row of the Bihutoli
in Latasil where I watched the dancers from close range. I
never failed to accompany my father who used to be in the
committee of organizers. Though today I may not be a regular
among the audience but it is a ritual on my part to be there
at least once during the celebrations.
Truly
Bohag Bihu is a harbinger of song and dance to the people
of Assam. The dhol. Toka, pepa permeates the air and the melodious
Bihugeets seems to dispel all negativity by ringing in cheer
and gaiety. These songs represent the joy of life. The lyrics
have a wide range from love, natural beauty, social awareness
etc. However, the Bihugeets are best during the Rongali Bihu
season as during other parts of the year they seem to lose
their sheen. Therefore it is a trend of musicians and singers
to release their new Bihu albums during this season.
So
this Bihu if you want to feel the essence of ‘rong’ in Rongali
Bihu, do grab a Bihu album and let the thunderous beats of
the dhol cleanse your spirit and fill it with joyous abundance.
Surely Bohag Bihu is closest to our hearts and we definitely
can’t do without celebrating it in this season of joy and
mirth.
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