Bihu in Sydney

Atikoi senehor mugare mohura
tatokoi senehor maku,
tatokoi senehor bahagor bihuti
nepati kenekoi thako.

This year Rongali Bihu in Australia was celebrated with great enthusiasm and passion, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne. It is heartening to see the small Assamese community upholding the ‘Axomia Xangskrity’ (Assamese Culture) far away from the native land.

The evening in Sydney started with the welcome speech followed by a series of solo and group performances much to the audience’s delight. This year was marked by the incoming of a host of new performers showcasing their talents from dance to musical instruments to vocals. The evening was enriched with the group songs like ‘Sreemayee Axomeer Xeetal Bukut Uthe’, traditional and modern dances and solo song performances. The atmosphere was resplendent with the ladies in their ‘Pat’ and ‘Muga’ ‘mekhala sadar’ and the gents in their traditional ‘Dhoti’ and ‘Panjabi’. The ladies also performed a modern mix with ‘Dandia’ with the colourful sticks sounding to a lovely beat. The parents’ hearts were filled with joy and pride as the younger ones performed the most colorfully cute Bihu dance. This year’s major attraction however, was the ‘Husari’. First time in Australia, ‘Husari’ was performed live with ‘Dhol’ and ‘Taal’ without the aid of CDs or iPods. Midway through the splendidly choreographed Husari performance was the heart filling moment of six beautiful ‘nasanee’s (female dancers) entry in response to the lyrical welcoming invite by the ‘Dhol-Taal-Sapari’ playing male members. As the Husari proceeded with dance, song and the sound of ‘Dhol’ climaxed, some from the audience rose from their chairs to come forward and join the merriment!

The Bihu celebrations in Australia have never been limited to the Assamese community itself. Families and friends join in from various Indian & other Australian communities and cultures. This year too a couple of Pakistani friends were among the guests who enjoyed the evening with the rest.

The celebrations ended with a sumptuous dinner and a ‘Mukoli Bihu’ where everyone present sang and danced to their heart’s content. Needless to mention, it was a reinforcement of the belief and commitment in the traditional culture and a wonderfully brilliant effort to keep it alive in our hearts.