by Mayukh Goswami

Mangaldai   : The second and final phase of the Rongali Bihu celebration organized by the 65 th Sadou Mangaldai Rongali Bihu Sanmilani got underway with three days variety of programmes here at the historic Gandhi Maidan  from Saturday. The celebration of the  day which  began with the State level Marathon race competition featured several other programmes including singing contest titled “Geetisudha” and cultural evening with the local artistes . The ‘Geetisudha’  contest which has been conducted by singer and Radio announcer Pranjal  Sarma was recorded around fifty young singers . In the cultural evening audience were enthralled by the renditions of promising child artiste Anwesha Goswami , youth artiste Suman and senior administrative officer Kalpana Deka besides the group dances performed by several cultural troupes including Youth Club music institute , Jagriti Krishti Sanggha and Upasana music institute among others .

 Earlier the first phase of the four day celebration was held on April 15 with a day long programme where  much to the delight and inspiration of  the progressive farmers of Darrang district, the oldest Rongali Bihu celebration committee of the district, for the first time in its recent history has come forward to offer public felicitation to a progressive local farmer. The president of the Bihu Committee and Mangaldai Legislator Gurujyoti Das in presence of its Working President Rajiv Kr Deka, general secretary Diganta Mani Bora and other office bearers on Monday offered  felicitation to Dhrubjyoti Saikia, a progressive young farmer hailing from village Ramgaon with a memento, a gamosa and a traditional ‘Halowa Japi’. Besides farmer Saikia, prominent artist Mantu Das and retired engineer Haren Kakati were also feted on the occasion. Meanwhile the first day of the four day Bihu celebration in the historic Gandhi Maidan in two different phases has also marked a colourful cultural rally and a launching of an Assamese song sung by senior administrative officer and singer Kalpana Deka. Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Dass flagged off the cultural rally while the song was ceremonially released by Legislator Gurujyoti Das.

The celebration which will come to end on Monday has also featured  several other attractive cultural, literary and sports programmes including All Assam Prize Money Mukoli Bihu,  Bihu Kunwari, cycling contests, souvenir release function  and cultural evening by guest artiste  among others.