Spring colours the life of the Assamese people by bringing with it the joyous festival of Rongali Bihu. The word ‘Rongali’ in Assamese means happiness, fun and gaiety, ecstasy and as such the Assamese people swirl with the vibe of the Festival. It is also that time of the year, where the Cuckoos bring the melody to nature and the orchids colour it with coruscating shades. The puffy clouds and the gusty winds often termed as ‘Bordoichila' makes the weather even more thrilling and the denizens at large rejuvenate themselves in the majestic aura of nature. Rongali Bihu also brings with it the flavour of music and dance and as such the rhythm and euphony of Rongali Bihu pulsates in the veins of Assamese People. In fact, the festival in its own way celebrates the notion of peace, harmony, unity and goodwill. If one carefully notices, one would also notice that the celebration of Rongali Bihu is also the perfect blend of association of nature with raw human emotions.
ALSO READ: Opinion | Let's Not Read Forest As Obstacles But As Assets
Over the years, a lot has been discussed and deliberated upon the facets of Rongali Bihu, including the dance and the songs, alongside the importance of Rongali Bihu in carrying forward the identity of the Assamese people. However, another aspect of Rongali Bihu that is quite visible but often less discussed in pen and paper is the romantic aspect associated with the festival. Be it the Bihu songs or the dance forms, boys and girls often indulge in playful teasing with each other, sometimes even expressing their love for one another in their own ways, thus further enhancing the romantic aspect of the festival. The deeper understanding of the romanticism associated with the festival can be further understood by taking into relevance a few traditions and rituals related with the festival.
The Bihu songs and the dance form play a vital role in enhancing the romantic aspect of the festival. Often the Bihu dances are performed in a group where both young boys and girls take active participation. Dhol, pepa, gogona etc are some of the common folk instruments used in the performance of Bihu songs and dances. However, the interesting aspect related to it is that often when the Bihu dance is performed, a boy and a girl dances in rhythm and the lyrics of the songs are often such that either the boy is playfully expressing his feelings for the girl or the girl in a reticent manner acknowledging the same. In fact, this happens amidst the rhythmic swaying and frolicking of both the boy and the girl in the beats of Bihu songs. Furthermore, whenever Bihu dance is performed, it is also often noticed that a boy either plays the dhol or the pepa making constant eye contact with the girl whirling in the beats of Bihu and the girl further reciprocates the eye contact with the boy with smiles on the face. This expression of art form often gives the impression as ‘Toi a mur dhulia, moi a tur nasoni’, meaning you are my only percussionist and I am your only dancer, thus showcasing an endearing form of love and possessiveness. This therefore further enhances the romantic aspect related to celebrating the festival.
Artistes and experts on Bihu have also commented numerous times that the celebration of Bihu also encompasses within it the aspect of relating it with nature and bringing into context love and romanticism. This can be also understood by taking into context the Bihu songs and the modern Bihu Suriya Songs. One of the famous Bihu Suriya song, “Oi Jaan Oi Aakakh Khon Dhuniya, Oi Jaan Oi Tora re Jilika, Oi Jaan Oi Monore Khorogot, Oi Jaan Oi Tumi Mur Menoka” which translates to someone expressing his or her love to the other stating that amidst beauty of the sky and the shining of the start, he or she occupies a very special place in his or her heart. This song itself reflects on the beauty of expressing someone's feeling for the other by relating it with nature. Another famous Bihu Suriya song, “..........Aru moi tumaloi hodai rati sithi lixhi, pua fali pelao bhal koi lixhime buli, diyai nahal jana tumake oi, kuai nohol monor kotha bur oi” which symbolises the old school way of expressing love between a boy and a girl, where one of them couldn't hand over the love letter to the other and as such couldn't express his or her feelings. Such is the aura of the festival that focuses on expressing love in the simplest way possible, relating it to things, objects and emotions that we have all experienced at least once in our lifetime.
Another important thing and tradition related to celebrating the festival is by gifting ‘Bihuwaan’. The term ‘Bihuwaan’ is used to signify certain gifts given by one person to another to express love and endearment. In Bihu, the young ones seek blessings from the elders and the elders out of love and care hand over to them ‘Bihuwaan’. While one speaks of ‘Bihuwaan’, young girls also indulge themselves in weaving a traditional ‘Gamucha’ and ‘Rumaal’ (meaning handkerchief). The romantic aspect related to it that the young girls desire or often gifts their ‘Priyojon’ (loved or special one) ‘Bihuwaan’ in the form of Gamucha or Rumal and the expression of the girl when she hands over the same to her beloved one undoubtedly brings the romantic flavour to the festival.
Festivals serve as an important element of confluence of cultural and spiritual essence, thereby also acknowledging the spirit of expressing love for humans or the divine. This holds true for Rongali Bihu as well. It celebrates the beauty of nature, while upholding the emotions of love and empathy that one individual can possess for the other or the community at large that actually enhances the true spirit of romanticism.
(The author is an Advocate at the Gauhati High Court. All views and opinions expressed are author’s own)
