Guwahati: Rongali Bihu was celebrated in various parts of Assam with different communities making merry in their own traditional way.

To recognise and encourage performers of Bihu songs and dances, the Pub Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan has decided to give cash prizes to all participants in the Axom Bihuwoti competition which is being organised on the occasion of Rongali Bihu at Chandmari field.

The Bihuwoti title is on a par with the Bihu Xomragyi title presented by the Latasil Bihu Sanmilan. Moushumi Bora emerged the winner of the Bihuwoti contest. Competitions to select Axom Bihuwoti 2018, Axom Bihuwa (male Bihu dancer), best Bihu dancer (female), best husori group, best Bihu drummer and best Pepa player were organised by the Sanmilan.

Singers such as Chayanika Bhuyan, Krishnamoni Chutia, Simanta Sekhar and Bhrigu Kashyap are scheduled to perform late on Monday and Tuesday.

While Rongali Bihu was all about star performers in the past few years, a lot of organisers in the city this time are abstaining from hiring high-budget artistes and are, instead, willing to invest more on traditional performances.

Latasil Bihu Committee organiser Balen Sarma said: "We are the biggest Bihu organisers in Assam. We have taken up the role to not only promote Assam's culture, but also that of the entire Northeast. So this Bihu, the people of Guwahati will witness dance and cultural programmes of all the northeastern states."

Mukoli Bihu - a performance in an open field - was held at Latasil on Saturday.

The New Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan has organised workshops, husori dance performances by local artistes and provided a platform to Mayuri Choudhury, a new singer.

Papon's chances of performing in this Rongali Bihu have been affected by a controversy in a TV reality show in February. None of the Bihu organisers has approached him this year which was not the case two years back when a performance by Angaarag Papon Mahanta was a must in most of the major Bihu celebrations in the city.

To celebrate Assamese New Year, the Rabhas in Goalpara district observed Pohila Boisag on Sunday with women participating in the traditional lewa tana or tug-of-war game.

Thousands of youths donning traditional attire and mekhela sadors also attended the lewa tana game in Rampur village under Balijana revenue circle.

Members of the Duliajan and Bhadoi units of AASU organised Rongali Bihu with a daylong programme at Bajaloni Primary School playground at Nagajan in Dibrugarh district. Various ethnic groups such as Moran and Sonowal Kachari communities performed their own styles of Jeng Bihu and husori.