Performers unhappy with curbs on Bihu celebrations
Bohag Bihu, Assam’s biggest festival, which marks the start of the Assamese calendar year, is just three weeks away, but it has been caught in a swirl of controversy over restrictions imposed by a top committee.
Several performers have expressed reservations against the fresh set of guidelines imposed by All Assam Bihu Sanmilani Samannayrakshi Samiti (AABSSS), the apex body of Bihu committees across Assam, on Sunday on matters ranging from timings to dress worn by performers and the fee charged by them.
Like previous years, AABSSS wants functions to end by midnight, performers to wear traditional or decent clothes, refrain from charging heavy fees and end Bihu celebrations within the month of Bohag.
“Bihu is our identity. It shouldn’t be made into an industry. Ours is just an appeal to make the festival stick to tradition,” said Ranjan Bora, working president of AABSSS. Beginning on the first day of Bohag month (on April 14), over 2,000 Bihu functions are held across the state.
AABSSS is trying to unify all the events and bring in some uniformity in celebrations.
The festival, which also marks the onset of spring, used to be celebrated with Bihu songs and dances in fields and courtyards. But over the past decades, celebrations have shifted to stages and many feel it is losing its traditional charm.
Last year, Zubeen Garg, Assam’s versatile singer-composer-actor was banned from performing during Bihu in some places after he reportedly refused to wear ‘dhoti’, the traditional male garment, during his shows.
“We are Assamese and Bihu is in our blood. We don’t need any committee to tell us how we should perform or dress. They should not interfere,” said popular singer Baboo.