GUWAHATI, April 24 – The Assamese community in United
Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated Rongali Bihu a couple of
days ahead of the festival with traditional fervour and
gaiety, informs a press release received here through e-mail.
Around 150 people gathered at the Ibis World Trade Centre
Hotel in Dubai for a cultural evening featuring popular
guest artistes from Assam. Long-time Dubai resident Aswini
Borkotoky welcomed the gathering on behalf of the organisers,
Assam Society, Dubai. Another senior citizen of Dubai, Col
(Retd) Mahananda Medhi, welcomed the guest artistes with
the traditional gamocha and souvenirs.
Moinul Haque, one of the biggest names in the art of mime
in India, kept the audience in raptures in a 30-minute show.
Another high point of the evening was a one-man humour act
of Deva Prasanna Das.
Popular singer Krishna Mani entertained the crowd with
Assamese modern songs and Bihu songs.
Dayananda Gogoi and Siba Bora played the dhol, Sumanto
Dutta the guitar, Sumon Bordoloi the cymbals and Padmaneel
Lahkar the keyboard during Nath’s live act. Also accompanying
the entourage from Assam was percussionist Rupak Sharma.
A hussori was also presented by the local residents of
Dubai. The hussori troupe, led by Dayananda Gogoi and Siba
Bora on the dhol and Sumon Bordoloi on the traditional cymbal,
comprised Sandeep Bhagowati, Utpal Nath Aswini Borkotoky,
Dipak Tumung, Dhiraj Tumung, Momy Dowerah and Kanchan Bharali.
Abudhabi-based sisters — Niharik and Netra Dutta presented
a dance recital based on a Rabha folk song.
Earlier, the cultural function got off to a start with
a chorus, Asom Aamaar Rupohi, sung by Parul Hazarika, Padmakshi
Borah, Anita Barooah, Dimple Bhagawati, Momy Dowerah, Dayananda
Gogoi, Sumon Bordoloi and Tipak Tumung with Siba Bora accompanying
on the tabla, Dhiraj Tumung on the guitar and Padmaneel
Lahkar on the bongo.
The programme was compared by Aroonim Bhuyan who also conducted
a quiz on Assamese tradition and culture.
This was the 10th occasion that the Assam Society, Dubai,
has organised this event, having started way back in 199
with an outdoor programme at the bin Majid Beach Resort
in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
By The Assam Tribune, 25thApril'..2008
