Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday (May 9, 2025) requested organisers to cancel the remaining Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu functions from May 10 onwards.
Rongali Bihu, a spring festival, marks the start of the Assamese New Year. The highly popular Bihu functions are organised from mid-April to mid-May.
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The Chief Minister did not cite any reason for his call, but the appeal is believed to be related to the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict over the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
“Over the past month, we have joyfully celebrated Bihu across Assam through numerous cultural events. I sincerely thank everyone for their enthusiastic participation and contributions,” he posted on social media platform X.
“However, the time has now come to conclude this festive season. I humbly appeal that all remaining Bihu functions scheduled from 10th May onwards be kindly cancelled. Let us bring this vibrant celebration to a graceful close, with the same unity and spirit in which it was celebrated,” he further wrote.
In ethnic conflict-scarred Manipur, the top leaders of the Opposition Congress took out a ‘Jai Hind Yatra’ in the State’s capital, Imphal, on Friday to express their solidarity with the Indian armed forces engaged in the conflict.
Hundreds of party workers participated in the rally led by State Congress president Keisham Meghachandra Singh, former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, and Congress Working Committee member Gaikhangam.
Meanwhile, the security along the India-Bangladesh border in four northeastern States — Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura — has been heightened.
These States share a total of 1,880 km with Bangladesh. Some sensitive stretches of the border remain unfenced.
Night curfew along the border is one of the steps taken to thwart attempts by people to infiltrate, a possibility underscored after the detention of at least 30 Bangladeshi nationals in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi area over the past few months. Some of these people had come in illegally, while others were trying to go back.
“State security forces and local village defence parties have also been activated, particularly after some Bangladeshi nationals intimidated our border protectors in a sector in the West Jaintia Hills district,” a Meghalaya official said.
