Guwahati: Assam government has offered one-time financial assistance to Rongali (Bohag) Bihu celebration committees of the State so that the ten (or more) years old committees can celebrate the spring festival from Sankranti to the 6th day of Bohag month in Assamese calendar every year with no ‘forceful’ donations from the donors.
State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday ceremonially launched the distribution of aid in the city, under which the government distributed rupees 1.5 lakhs per committee to 138 beneficiaries of Kamrup (metro) and 142 from Kamrup district. Altogether 1265 Bihu committees in 30 districts will be provided this financial assistance and for it the culture affairs department allocated a sum of rupees 18.97 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarma stated that the government has a bounded responsibility to work for socio-economic development of the people as well as promoting the State’s rich culture. Considering the socio-cultural significance of Bihu for the people of Assam, the government decided to offer financial assistance to the Bihu committees, he added.
Underlining the history of Rongali Bihu, which was originally celebrated for seven days, Sarma urged the committees to maintain its originality so that the youth could realize its true form instead of considering Bihu just as a cultural function. He called upon the celebration committees to use handloom Gamosa (instead of power loom productions) at the functions.
