The Assamese Spring Festival, Rongali Bihu which was celebrated with traditional gaeity and enthusiasm at Vanapa Hall today was attended by the Chief Minister Pu Lal Thanhawla and his wife Pi Lal Riliani as Chief Guests. Upon their arrival at the venue, the Chief Guests were received and greeted, apart from the officials of the organising committee of the Assam Cultural Society Mizoram, by the Bihu folk dancers with utmost fanfare.

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister said Bihu is the most important festivals of Assam celebrated with fun and abundance by all Assamese peolple irrespective of caste, creed, religion, faith and belief. This is the beauty of Bihu, he said. He added that of all the festivals that he had seen in the country, Bihu is one of the best and hilarious festivals endowed with amazing joy and flavor.

 Shri Lal Thanhawla recounts how much he enjoyed with the Assamese people when he was at North Lakhimpur for 3 years during his youner days. He said that Assam is the Mother of almost all the states of the north east. 'We,therefore, all have a deep sense of belonging in one way or the other. We hpoe Assam and its poeple also share this sentiments' he added.

The Chief Minister expressed delight to the Assam Cultural Society Mizoram for having nurture the Assamese noble traditions of respect for elders,love and affection for the young and social and communal interaction, which he said is conspicous in the celebration.

The Chief Minister wishes the people a joyous and fruitful celebration of the festivals.

The daylong celebration includes a number of entertainments both traditional and modern. Almost all dances of the north east people were performed with utmost fervour and joy. The programme was intermittently break with felicitation of group leaders of certain persons.

The Chief Minister and his wife were felicitated with Assamese traditions of presenting a 'Gamosa', a 'Japi' and a "Sarai' by the President of the Assam Cultural Society Mizoram, Dr. Dipak Kumar Bakakati.