Bihu caught in 'dress code', 'Hindi ban' diktats by ultras

The Rongali Bihu, a traditional festival of Bihu song and dance of Assam, has become a bone of contention among artistes, event organisers and the banned anti-talk faction of Ulfa led by Paresh Baruah.

While a joint platform of Bihu organisers in the state have given a diktat to artistes that they would be allowed to perform only if the wear tradition ‘Assamese gears’ during their performance, Baruah-led Ulfa has gone a step ahead by issuing a diktat to artistes and singers not to sing and dance to ‘Hindi songs’ on Bihu.

Earlier this week, the joint platform of Bihu organisers across Assam — Saodou Asom Bihu Sanmilani Somonnoy Rokkhi Samity — issued a list of rules for the next year Bihu schedules after consultations with at least 50 Bihu organising committees across Assam. While the artistes accepted all the rules, a stalemate continues over the issue of permitting artistes to perform only if they wear ‘traditional Assamese’ wears.

“We have noticed that some of the major star performers wear anything they like, sometime the dresses are objectionable as well. Bihu is a traditional festival. Thus, we wanted to retain the heritage. We will not allow the singers to take stage unless they wear traditional clothes,” said Pranab Goswami, General Secretary of the Joint platform.

On Wednesday, Baruah-led Ulfa(I) issued a fresh diktat through a release declaring complete ban on Hindi songs at Bihu events.Star singers from Assam like Bollywood famed Zubeen Garg and Angaraag Papon Mahanta, are the biggest crowd pullers during Bihu and they always perform their popular Hindi numbers during Bihu programmes.

Performance of Hindi songs and dances during Rongali Bihu celebration will be considered an act against the traditional and rich Assamese culture. The outfit will take stern action against violators,” Ulfa(I) stated in the release. Singers and Bihu artists are furious over the diktats from organisers and the militants.