HT Bureau
DIPHU, Jan. 27: The Dimasa community in Karbi Anglong celebrated ‘Bisu Dima’ – post-harvest festival of the tribe in Dhansiri valley. ‘Bisu Dima’ also symbolizes unity, co-existence and the rich culture of the Dimasa tribe. The government has declared a restricted holiday on the occasion.
At Adarsha village, Dhansiri, the festival was celebrated with visits to the elderly by the men and women to seek their blessings which were done in the morning.
After the blessings, the community gathered at the village ground for a community celebration with games and sports organised for children, men and women alike. The village ground looked colourful with the Dimasa traditional dresses being worn by the adults and children to celebrate the occasion.
Adviser of All Dimasa Students Union, Rakesh Hasnu said, “Bisu Dima is the major festival of the Dimasa tribe. The celebration is marked by merry-making as the harvest is done. The government has declared a restricted holiday to enable the Dimasa people to celebrate their festival. The festival is celebrated in every village and a date for the celebration was fixed in 1994 – it was on January 27.”
The festival is marked with a community feast in which mutton, Judima –Dimasa rice beer, rice and curry is partaken. In the evening the Baikho Khuruba dance is performed by men and women on the rhythms of the Dimasa traditional drums and flutes.
The Bisu Dima was also celebrated in all Dimasa dominated villages in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi districts.