Voice of India Debojit Saha on his plans to spend most of Bohag in Assam

Rongali Bihu always holds an important place in my heart and it is time again to celebrate the biggest and the most colourful festival of the state. From Barpeta and Dhubri to Sualkuchi, the silk town of Assam, and then to Upper Assam, the entire atmosphere changes during this part of the year and music becomes the first preference of the masses.

Despite my busy schedule in Mumbai and places across India and abroad, I have chalked out a plan to ensure spending the maximum number of days in Assam during the entire Bohag month.

Performing at Bihu functions sometimes become very tough and tiring because these run throughout the night. Last year I had to stay awake the entire night to perform at various places. Handling the Bihu revellers is also a tough job and sometimes they refuse to stop their demands of favourite songs till early morning hours.

Unlike the functions that we perform in Mumbai and other cities, which do not continue beyond 12am, the characteristic of Bihu function is totally different.

But I love to perform at these functions because of the liveliness, unlimited enthusiasm and genuine love the audience shower on their favourite singers. For a singer the applause of thousands cannot be compensated.

Like last year I will be performing at Bihu functions under the banner of our joint venture Sursaptak Barak Brahmaputra Eksuree. This time, however, singer Jitul Sonowal may not be there. But I will be performing with some promising singers of the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys to uphold unity and integrity among people of both the valleys.

The joint project was hugely welcomed and accepted by the people in the two valleys last year. I am sure that the project will be able to live up to your expectations this time too. Artistes have a social obligation and the project is an attempt to fulfil ours through the journey of amity and harmony.

Soon after the main Bihu days pass in mid-April, I will visit Dubai to perform at a function for Assamese residents there on April 23. After the Dubai visit, I will again come back to the state to perform during Bohagi bidai which is a part of the monthlong Bohag Bihu celebrations in Assam.

Bohagi bidai marks the end of the Bihu celebrations. It is again a different experience to perform at these functions with nearly a lakh of music lovers under a single roof.