The dawn of April 14th observes the time when the North Eastern citizens of India gear up to mark the Assamese new year. The 7-day harvest festival commences in April. The Bohag Bihu or the symbol of joy is also popularly called Rongaali Bihu and significantly implies the start of the farming season.
The Assamese new year annually celebrates three special occasions that succeed the Bohag Bihu (seeding festival), Kati Bihu (sowing festival), and the Magh Bihu (harvesting festival.
Why and where is it celebrated?
The Bohag Bihu symbolizes the start of the Hindu Lunisolar calendar. The citizens who honor the festival are blessed with bounties of joy and abundance.
Different states perceive the farming festival in different forms for instance: Keralites mark the harvest festival as Vishu, Punjab, and Haryana observe it as Baisakhi, Puthandu is celebrated by Tamil Nadu, and Pana Sankranti is celebrated by Odisha.
What are the festival phases involved?
The first night performs the esteemed Raati Bihu phase that lights up lamps or torches across a sacred tree. The festive songs and dances are played on the second day tracking the Chot Bihu period.
The Manuh Bihu remarks on the first day of the Vaisakh month which is initiated by seeking the elder’s blessings followed by visiting related family and friends on the second day of the month for a banquet. The Bohag Bihu fair is conducted on the third day of the month discerning the Mela Bihu period and finally, the Chera Bihu phase concludes the festival.
How is it celebrated?
The citizens of Assam adorn themselves in traditional suits such as the Dhoti, Gamosa, and Saadar Mekhela. They start their day by applying traditional turmeric and urad dal paste. Then they proceed to purify themselves to dine on sticky rice mixed with curd and jaggery. The celebrations are acknowledged with much enthusiasm by staging folklore-themed dances, songs, and fairs. Assamese also feast on delicacies such as Pitha, Poka Mithoi, Ghila, Narikolar Laru, and much more to commemorate the festival.
