Rongali Bihu being celebrated at Kalibari in Imphal on Sunday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Imphal, May 25: If it’s Bihu, it’s always the right time.

For the Assamese community in Manipur, Bihu has come one-and-a-half months late, but the festive spirit remains the same.

The Rongali Bihu function, organised by Asom Samaj, Manipur — a body formed by Assamese settlers in Manipur and those working in different government offices — brought together the local Assamese, other communities and artistes from Jorhat at the Kalimandir here today.

“Our theme is the cultural integration of Assam and Manipur. We wanted to bring the people of both the states together and at the same time celebrate the biggest festival of Assam,” said one of the organisers, Bishorjit Deb.

“Kaziranga bor dhuniya /ekure nai tulona/tatukoi dhuniya tumi/kecha sunor tukura... (Kaziranga is beautiful and uncomparable, but you are more beautiful like a raw gold),” presented by a young singer from Saraighat Bihu Dol, Momi Begum, kept the gathering on their feet. Her second number Phoolphooli ge basantor created the perfect Bihu mood.

“Celebrating Bihu in Imphal will bring the Northeast closer. The festival would help forge common cultural ties for the people in the Northeast,” the director of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Yamebm Laba, said.

Bihu has a long history in Manipur. The first recorded Bihu celebration in the state was held at the city’s Police Lane in 1964, when six officials from Assam, who were posted in Manipur, organised the festival. Since then, the Assamese population in the state has gone up, and so have the celebrations. The Assamese population in Manipur is now estimated to be around 1,000.

However, it has been three years since the community celebrated both the Bihus in a year owing to the law and order situation.

“The last time we celebrated Bhogali Bihu was in 2005. However, we celebrate Rongali Bihu every year, but that too, is a daytime affair,” Deb said.

As many families visit their ancestral homes and relatives during the festival, the celebrations are always held later, at a convenient time for everyone.

The local people, including government officials like Yambem Laba, make it a point to participate in the celebrations.

The main attractions of the daylong programme include hoisting the festival flag, chorus husori (group Bihu), folk and modern Assamese songs and Bihu dance by various artistes.

“I am really happy to perform here,” Momi Begum said after her performance.

“It is a nostalgic experience as Bihu is very close to our hearts,” said Madhav Saikai, a Nabard official, who is originally from Jorhat.