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Assam turns festive for Rongali Bihu

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Guwahati, April 14 (IANS) The people of Assam on Saturday started celebrating Rongali Bihu to mark the beginning of the Assamese New Year and the end of the harvesting season amidst traditional fervour and large-scale fanfare.

The first day of the week-long festival was celebrated as Goru Bihu (Cattle Bihu) across the state in which people took their cattle to a nearby fishery or pond to give them a ceremonial bath and beat them with ‘dighalati pat’ — leaf of a plant having medicinal value — to ward off the flies and insects from the animal’s body. They also recite some hymns praying for the good health of the animal.

The second day of the festival, which falls on the first day of the new Assamese Calendar month of Bohag, which is on Sunday, is known as Manuh Bihu (Human Bihu). People take bath and wear new clothes on this day and sing and dance to enjoy.

Younger people visit elders in the family and seek their blessings. Elders give Bihuwan — the traditional Assamese towel known as Gamocha — and bless the younger ones for good health and prosperity.

Although the Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu is a week-long festival, the celebration continues for the whole of the month and beyond with people organising different cultural programmes and functions in different parts of the state.

Conveying his greetings, Assam Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi said: “Let this Bihu which marks the advent of Assamese New Year be a harbinger of a new dawn of warm and harmonious relationship and peace, prosperity and progress in the state.”

The Governor expressed hope that the celebrations of Rongali Bihu reinforce love and goodwill among all sections of the people and strengthen the bond of unity and bonhomie among them.

“Let this Rongali Bihu and the Assamese New Year be a reason for the people of Assam to take a pledge for a ‘Swachh Bharat’ and ‘Swachh Assam’,” he added.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also extended his Bihu wishes to all sections of people.

“Assam is a land where people representing all caste, creed, and community live in absolute harmony. Since time immemorial people of all sections have been living in the state upholding the tenets of peace, prosperity and mutual co-existence,” Sonowal said adding that Bihu is a festival which constitutes the lifeline of the people of Assam and the crux of the composite culture of Assam.

The celebration of Rogali Bihu and Assamese New Year besides reinforcing the age-old bond of unity and camaraderie among the people of Assam usher in a new dawn of peace and prosperity, he added.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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