By Nina Goswami

“Beating my Dhol during the performance of Husori was an extremely special moment – especially knowing I was on stage with four generations of Assamese,” said Dr Khogeswar Lahon, one of the first wave of Assamese to move to the United Kingdom in the 1960s.

Dr Lahon, the president of the London Bihu Committee, was among those who performed in a momentous celebration of Rongali Bihu last weekend. It featured the first Husori in Britain involving four generations.

It was equally special for nine-year-old Juhaim Rasul Choudhury, the youngest Husori participant on Saturday 26 April at Campion School in Hornchurch, Essex.

“At first I felt a tiny bit of stage fright but after a couple of minutes I got the hang of it,” he explained. “I felt really excited and confident and I didn’t want my Husori programme to ever end.”

Juhaim’s father Zaved Choudhury masterminded the special Husori. “As one of the cultural secretaries, I thought that the best way to highlight the presence of the growing global Assamese community in the UK was to involve the present four different generations of our community with whom I interact,” he said.

“This was also a good opportunity to pass on our rich cultural heritage to the upcoming new Assamese generations though we are on the other side of the globe.”

Newlyweds Tashmia Farhat and Madhusmita Gogoi, who moved to the UK two years ago, and Sanjay Sikdar and Rishi Kakati, second generation Assamese who were born in Britain, also took part.

Mr Kakati said: “My parents and I very much enjoyed being part of the first four-generation Husori. It was an honour to be a part of it and kick off the show with a bit of energy and verve.”

8 year-old Natasha Saikia dancing with her father

Reflecting on an enjoyable and energetic Bihu celebration, Mr Kakati added: “Everyone had such fun during the Bihu Olympics and the group dancing was contagious and led to a great, convivial atmosphere permeating the entire event.”

The 27^th consecutive London Bihu maintained its tradition of “sports”, including musical chairs for both the children and adults, the cultural show and Bihu Bhoj.

Committee member Bornali Bahia was impressed by the number of people attending the event for the first time. “It is clear from the number of kids and babies that it really is a lovely, fun day out for all the family,” she said.

Summing up the mood of celebration, Dr Neera Borkakoti, treasurer for the London Bihu Committee, said: “It really felt that we captured the true spirit of Bihu – everyone young and old getting together to sing, dance and rejoice.”

We are looking for some willing participants to help us with our research.

I am a London-based anthropologist, ethnographer and filmmaker. At the moment I am working in collaboration with a number of independent anthropologists and filmmakers on an exciting project that I think may interest you.

The theme of the project is ‘Assamese identity’ – what it means to be Assamese. Last year, we spent six weeks in the Northeast and we plan to return in April of this year to carry out further research. Our initial focus was on elements of material culture that contribute to an Assamese Identity, such as Muga silk, Jaapis and Bihu. We now want to expand on this: language, tribes and borderlands being particular areas of interest.

A part of the project is to speak with the Assamese diaspora. We are looking for Assamese NRIs living in London who would be happy to be interviewed on the subject.

If you, or you know of anyone who would be interested in helping us, please get in touch by e-mail (laurence.avis@icloud.com).

Many thanks,

Laurence Avis

Please click on our EVENTS page to view information about our forthcoming Bihu event.

NOTE: In order to become paperless, the LBC is now collecting email addresses from those interested in future London Bihu events. If wish to be send an e-invite, please send an email via the EVENTS page or the CONTACT US page. Your details will be kept in strictest confidence and will be only used for sending information about London Bihu.  Thank you for your co-operation.