Bihu

Held on : 14th April

Bihu  is the National Festival of Assam. The origin of the word ‘Bihu" is said to be from the Sanskrit word ‘Vishu’. Traditionally Bihu has been celebrated with Bihu dance and Bihu geets (songs) in the village fields and courtyards, with groups of youths going from house to house, singing Bihu songs which is known as Husori. The folk songs associated with the Bohag Bihu are called Bihugeets or Bihu songs. The same practice slowly got transformed to holding community functions mainly in towns and cities where cultural functions are held; such functions are based on Bihu dance and Bihu geets which depict mainly Bihu dances and songs. Though they owe their origins to ancient rites and practices they have taken definite urban features and have become popular festivals in urban and commercialized milieus in the recent decades.

Bihu involves a set of three different cultural festivals in Assam. These are:

Rongaali Bihu - Also known as Bohag Bihu is the most important Bihu of all the three. It is celebrated in the month of Bohaag (middle of April, around April 15), the first month of the Assamese calendar and thus marks the advent of the Assamese New Year. This Bihu is known as Rongaali as the word ‘Rong’ denotes joy in Assamese which predominates the celebration. Rongali Bihu is also a fertility festival, where the bihu dance with its sensuous movements using the hips, arms, etc, by the young women call out to celebrate their fertility. In this aspect, the bihu dance can also be called a mating ritual by the young men and women. This marks the first day of the Hindu solar calendar and is also observed in Bengal, Manipur, Nepal, Orissa, Punjab and Tamil Nadu though called by different names. It's a time of merriment and feasting and continues, in general, for seven days.

Events

The farmers prepare the fields for cultivation of paddy and there is a feeling of joy around. The ladies make pitha, larus (traditional food made of rice and coconut) and Jolpan which gives the real essence of the season.

• Goru Bihu - The first day of the Bihu is called Goru Bihu or Cow Bihu, where the cows are washed and worshipped, which falls on the last day of the previous year, usually on April 14.
• Manuh Bihu - This is followed by Manuh (human) Bihu on April 15, the New Year Day. This is the day of getting cleaned up, wearing new cloths and celebrating and getting ready for the new year with fresh vigour.
• Gosai Bihu - The third day is Gosai (Gods) Bihu; statues of Gods, worshipped in all households are cleaned and worshipped asking for a smooth new year.

Kongaali Bihu - It is the most quiet Bihu of the three without any fun fare unlike the other two as during this time of the year, the paddy in the fields are in the growing stage and the granaries of the farmers are almost empty. Held in the beginning of the Kati (7th month of the Assamese calendar) (middle of October), the Bihu marks silent prayer in the form of lighting of earthen lamps in the paddy fields and also near Tulasi tree for the success of the crop. It is also known as Kati Bihu or Kongaali Bihu (meaning the festival of the poor).

Events

• On this day, earthen lamps (saki) are lit at the foot of the household tulashi plant, the granary, the garden (bari) and the paddy fields.
• To protect the maturing paddy, cultivators whirl a piece of bamboo and recite rowa-khowa chants and spells to ward off pests and the evil eye.
• The Bodo people light lamps at the foot of the siju (Euphorbia) tree. This Bihu is also associated with the lighting of akaxi gonga or akaxbonti, lamps at the tip of a tall bamboo pole, to show the souls of the dead the way to heaven. There is also exchange of sweets and greetings at this time.
• They also make Bhela Ghar or Meji Ghar (temporary thatched house) where an overnight community function is held. These are specially erected for the purpose mainly in the barren paddy fields from where the crop has already been harvested. A Community feast is one of the main features of this Bihu which is held near the Bhela Ghar. People spent the night of the community feast in the Bhela Ghar and early in the morning the same is lit with fire, culminating the function.

Bhogali Bihu - It is a harvest festival and marks the end of harvesting season. Since the granaries are full, there is a lot of feasting and eating during this period. The word Bhogali comes from the word Bhog which means eating and enjoyment. Celeberated in mid-January it is also called Magh Bihu.

Events

• On the eve of the day called Uruka, i.e., the last day of pausa, menfolk, more particularly young men go to the field, preferably near a river, build a makeshift cottage called Bhelaghar with the hay of the harvest fields and the Meji, the most important thing for the night.
• During the night, they prepare food and there is community feasting everywhere. The entire night (called Uruka) is spent around a Meji with people singing bihu songs, beating Dhol, a typical kind of drums or playing games. Boys roam about in the dark stealing firewood and vegetables for fun.
• The next morning they take a bath and burn the main Meji. People gather around the Meji and throw Pithas (rice cakes) and betel nuts to it while burning it at the same time. They offer their prayers to the God of Fire and mark the end of the harvesting year.
• Thereafter they come back home carrying pieces of half burnt firewood for being thrown among fruit trees for favourable results. All the trees in the compound are tied to bamboo strips or paddy stems. Different types of sports like Buffalo-fight, Egg-fight, Cock-fight, Nightingale-fight etc. are held throughout the day.

Holiday Status - It is holiday in most north-eastern states of india.