The celebrations witnessed the participation of over 80 people including tiny tots from the Emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman. The programme was also enjoyed by a few guests who were in UAE visiting their relatives and friends – they were Hari Narayan Borah & his son Trailokya Borah, Syed Tahsinul Haque and his wife Syeda Sadika Haque, Chandra Majinder Baruah and his wife Anjali Baruah – all from Guwahati. The guests also included Tajgir Rahman, his wife Yasmin and daughter Tisha from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Participants started trickling by around 10 although the full house was seen only by late noon. The delay was not unexpected due to the cozy winter morning and that too on a weekly off (Friday) for most of the people.

The breakfast comprised of traditional items such as doi, chira and gur; other attractions of the breakfast were in the form of til pitha, tilor laru, narikolor laru brought all the way from Assam.

Games organised for the children such as sack race, running race, ‘lemon and spoon’ saw keen contest amongst all the children present. The children who could win prizes were Suffraz, Harshita, Arnav, Aastha, Yasir and Abhimanyu. Ladies three-legged race had Padmakshi/Yasmin and Tabassum/ Sabera as first and second prize winners. The first two positions in the ‘lemon & spoon’ race for the ladies were held by Syeda Samima and Sajiya, respectively. The three-legged race for men had Sanjeeb/Tandeep in the first place whereas the guests Trailokya/ Tajgir grabbed the second position.

Just before the lunch, the group photo session was arranged – not taking a chance to miss out those who had to leave early. For a change, a lot of cameras were seen in action for the group photo.

Although the lunch did not comprise entirely of traditional Assamese dishes, items such as fish curries prepared of Rau and Pabha along with ‘bengena and alu pitika’ were relished particularly by those having a penchant for ‘hot’ items.

Dr Utpal Kataky from Dubai convened a meeting to discuss the plans for the celebrations for the Rongali Bihu on April 13. Tajgir Rahman, from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, assured participation of the Assamese community from Saudi Arabia in the ensuing Bihu festivities. Member’s of the Somaj, who came to the UAE in the recent past and took part in the activities of the Asom Somaj, were introduced next.

The programme was a success largely due to the co-operation of all those who were present and specially due to the team efforts put up by Seema and Sanjeeb Rose, Rokshana Hazarika, Sumon Bordoloi, Tandeep Bhagawati, Jayanta Paul, Arman Hazorika, Syed Faruk, Subir Dutta, Utpal Kataky, Neena Kataky, Tonmoy Barooa, Parul Hazarika, Padmakshi Borah, etc. The celebrations were made memorable through the lenses of Rashid Ahmed, Sanjeeb Rose and Dilip Borah.