Dibrugarh: As Assam gears up for Rongali Bihu, the vibrant spirit of the state’s biggest festival remains subdued in Dibrugarh and other upper Assam districts. The recent assembly elections, coupled with persistent unseasonal rain over the past month, have left locals juggling political fervour and inclement weather, delaying the usual pre-festive hustle.Rongali Bihu, also known as Bohag Bihu, marks the Assamese New Year and the onset of the harvest season. Traditionally, it bursts with Husori performances, Bihu dances, feasting on pitha and traditional sweets, and community gatherings under the open sky. Markets brim with fresh produce, cattle fairs draw crowds, and villages echo with flutes and drums. Yet, in upper Assam hubs like Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Jorhat, the tempo is yet to set in.The assembly elections, held on Apr 9, consumed the region’s energy. Campaign rallies, door-to-door canvassing, and last-minute voter mobilisation overshadowed Bihu preparations.“Normally by this time, the market would be packed with people buying gamosas, mekhela chadors, and new clothes for the family. This time it is very different. The election took up everything — our time, our energy, our attention. Now Bihu is three days away and it still does not feel like Bihu.
Sales are down 60% compared to last year. People are recovering from poll fatigue,” said Bhagirath Baruah, a textile trader in Dibrugarh’s pucca bazar.For shopkeepers, the delayed festive rush is a source of financial anxiety. The days preceding Rongali Bihu are among the most commercially significant of the year across Assam, with sales of traditional attire, jewellery, sweets, and gifts typically reaching their annual peak.
This year, many shopkeepers are hoping for a last-minute surge during the remaining days.“We are still hopeful. People will come. Assamese people love Bihu too much to let it pass quietly. Maybe everything will happen in the last two days,” said another shopkeeper.Adding to the subdued atmosphere is the relentless spell of unseasonal rain that has battered upper Assam for nearly a month. The rain has not only disrupted outdoor preparations and rehearsals for Bihu dance programmes, but has also kept shoppers indoors and dampened the enthusiasm of community organisers who plan open-air events.“The continuous drizzle has soaked our fields and spirits alike. We couldn’t even start Husori practice properly. Rain during Bihu is auspicious in folklore, but this is unprecedented. Our traditional dances need open courtyards, not puddles,” said noted Bihu exponent from Dibrugarh Jiten Das.“We have been trying to hold rehearsals for our Bihu dance group, but the rain has made it very difficult. The ground is waterlogged, and it is hard to keep enthusiasm high when the weather refuses to cooperate. We are hoping it clears up before the 15th,” said a young Bihu dancer from Dibrugarh.Despite the delayed start, locals remain hopeful that the festive spirit will pick up in the remaining days.
