Guwahati, Feb 23: The Union Ministry of Culture found itself at the centre of a controversy in Assam after a quiz post on its official Facebook page incorrectly spelt two of the state’s most revered cultural traditions. The post referred to “Husari” and “Bihuna” instead of the correct terms, Husori and Bihu, prompting widespread criticism online.
The quiz, which alluded to a tea-producing state and asked, “Husari and Bihuna are traditional folk dance forms of which state?”, quickly drew sharp reactions from netizens. Many described the mistake as disrespectful and misleading, pointing out that “Bihuna” has no place in Assamese cultural vocabulary. Social media users urged the Ministry to rectify the error, stressing the importance of accuracy when referencing regional heritage.
Among those who responded was noted filmmaker Utpal Borpujari, who criticised the lapse and said that government-run social media accounts must verify their content before publication. He observed that such oversights not only spark avoidable controversy but also risk spreading misinformation.
Husori is a traditional performance associated with Bohag Bihu, during which troupes visit households to sing and offer blessings. Bihu, celebrated in its three forms — Rongali, Kongali and Bhogali — remains integral to Assam’s cultural identity and social life.
Following the backlash, the Ministry issued a public apology acknowledging the mistake. In its statement, it said it sincerely regretted the error in the earlier post where “Bihunas” had been mistakenly written as “Bihuna”. The Ministry affirmed that it holds India’s diverse cultural traditions in the highest regard, confirmed that the post had been removed, and assured that greater care would be taken to prevent similar errors in the future.
The incident has once again brought attention to the need for cultural sensitivity and precise representation when highlighting regional traditions on official platforms.
