This year's Rongali Bihu celebrations have fallen victim tothe new Coronavirus. The Bihu celebrations in Assam will remain restricted torituals only in view of the coronavirus fear.
Amid the COVID19 pandemic, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Sunday in a press statement asked the people of Assam to light diyas on the occasion of Manuhor Bihu (The first day of Assamese New Year 'Bohag').
To say things aren't the same as before, would be anunderstatement. Amid national lockdown, even the fervour with which peoplecelebrate festivals isn't the same. It started around the time of Holi earlierthis month, with people being scared to play it in a crowd.
As the state government was taking every possible step toprevent the spread of coronavirus, organisers of most Bihu celebrations,Assam's biggest festival, decided to cancel their on-stage programmes.
Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahantahas requested the Bihu committees to have an assembly of five people only tohoist the flag.
The DGP has also asked the committees to restrict thehoisting of the flag to 30 minutes and ensure social distancing. Due to thecurrent threat posed by the virus, DGP Mahanta has urged people to abstain frommass gatherings.
Earlier, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had suggestedthe Bihu committees to hoist the celebration flag instead of arranging culturalprogramme. "Four or five persons will be allowed to attend the flag hoistingprogamme", Sarma said.
"Good days will come, once the deadly virus leaves…willobserve Bihu and other festivals when the situation back to normal", Sarmasaid.
Many said the Bihu organisers took such a big step after1983, when Assam witnessed turmoil due to the anti-foreigners agitation.
