Dibrugarh (Assam) [India], Apr 5 : Preparations are in full swing to celebrate the festival of Rongali Bihu. Young boys and girls in the state are practicing hard for their performance to mark the occasion.
In Dibrugarh’s Moran district, the first-ever Bihu ‘Husori troupe’ is stealing the limelight as this is for the first time a group of young girls will be playing the dhol, pepa, gagana, taal, which is usually played by men while performing Husori.
“This is the first girl Husori Troupe and the only one in Assam. Usually, boys perform Husori but girls too perform it. Boys also perform ‘Lahori’. So we decided that even we girls can perform it. We play pepa, gagana, dhol and japi. Also, we perform special ‘Kahi dance’,” said Sangita Saud, one of the participants.
‘Husori’ is an indispensable part of Rongali Bihu and it is sung on the very first day of Bihu i.e Cow Bihu. On this day, young men under the guidance of the elders, go from home to home and sing a Bihu song known as ‘Husori’.
Although, traditionally sung and performed by men but in recent times, women are also seen taking part in it more enthusiastically.
Young girls are seen wearing the traditional attire in the disguise of men playing pepa and other folk instruments.
“Our group had been visiting different districts to perform ‘Husori’. Our team has been the best and this year too we are preparing in full swing to perform during ‘Bohag Maah’. We will try to give our best performance,” said Jinki Baruah, one of the performers.
Not only in Assam, girls of Bihu Husori Troupe, have been showcasing their talent in different parts of the region.
Bihu is the chief festival in Assam. It refers to a set of three different festivals: Rongali or Bohag Bihu observed in April, Kongali or Kati Bihu observed in October, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu observed in January. The Rongali Bihu is the most important of the three, celebrating the Assamese New Year and the spring festival.