Bihu is a set of three important Assamese festivals in the
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
n state of
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
– 'Rongali' or 'Bohag Bihu' observed in April, 'Kongali' or 'Kati Bihu' observed in October, and 'Bhogali' or '
Magh Bihu
Magh Bihu (মাঘ বিহু) (also called Bhogali Bihu (ভোগালী বিহু) (of eating Bhog i.e. enjoyment) or Maghar Domahi (মাঘৰ দোমাহী) is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam, North-East India, whi ...
' observed in January. The Rongali Bihu is the most important of the three, celebrating spring festival. The
Bhogali Bihu
Magh Bihu (মাঘ বিহু) (also called Bhogali Bihu (ভোগালী বিহু) (of eating Bhog i.e. enjoyment) or Maghar Domahi (মাঘৰ দোমাহী) is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam, North-East India, w ...
or the Magh Bihu is a harvest festival, with community feasts. The Kongali Bihu or the Kati Bihu is the sombre, thrifty one reflecting a season of short supplies and is an animistic festival.
The Rongali Bihu coincides the Assamese New year and as well as with other regions of
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...
,
East Asia
East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both Geography, geographical and culture, ethno-cultural terms. The modern State (polity), states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. ...
and
South-East Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...
, which follow the
Hindu calendar
The Hindu calendar, Panchanga () or Panjika is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt a ...
and
Buddhist calendar
The Buddhist calendar is a set of lunisolar calendars primarily used in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand as well as in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam by Chinese populations for religious or official occasions. While t ...
. The other two Bihu festivals every year are unique to
Assamese people
The Assamese people are a socio- ethnic linguistic identity that has been described at various times as nationalistic or micro-nationalistic. This group is often associated with the Assamese language, the easternmost Indo-Aryan language, a ...
. Like some other Indian festivals, Bihu is associated with agriculture, and rice in particular. Bohag Bihu is a sowing festival, Kati Bihu is associated with crop protection and worship of plants and crops and is an animistic form of the festival, while Bhogali Bihu is a harvest festival.
Assamese celebrate the Rongali Bihu with feasts, music and dancing. Some hang brass, copper or silver pots on poles in front of their house, while children wear flower garlands then greet the new year as they pass through the rural streets.
The three Bihu are
Assamese festivals
elders in family, fertility and mother goddess, but the celebrations and rituals reflect influences from
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainlan ...
and
Sino-Tibetan cultures.
In contemporary times, the Bihus are celebrated by all
Assamese people
The Assamese people are a socio- ethnic linguistic identity that has been described at various times as nationalistic or micro-nationalistic. This group is often associated with the Assamese language, the easternmost Indo-Aryan language, a ...
irrespective of religion, caste or creed. It is also celebrated overseas by the
Assamese diaspora community living worldwide.
The term ''Bihu'' is also used to simply
Bihu dance
The Bihu dance is an indigenous folk dance from the Indian state of Assam related to the Bihu festival and an important part of Assamese culture. Performed in a group, the Bihu dancers are usually young men and women, and the dancing style is cha ...
otherwise called Bihu Naas and
Bihu folk songs also called Bihu Geet.
History
Although the modern form of Bihu is a synthesis of varied cultural elements from diverse ethnic groups like Tibeto-Burman and Tai, it has deep roots in the indigenous culture.
Indigenous origin
The word ''Bihu'' has been derived from the
Deori (a
Boro-Garo language) word ''Bisu'' which means "excessive joy". The original form of Bihu continue among the
Chutias,
Sonowal Kacharis
The Sonowal Kachari ( as, Xonowāl Kosāree) are one of the indigenous peoples of the state of Assam in Northeast India. They are of Tibeto-Burman origin, and are closely associated with the other ethnic groups of Assam which are commonly refe ...
and
Deoris. These groups, known as Sadiyal Kacharis were associated with the historical
Kingdom of Sadiya
The Chutia Kingdom (also Sadiya) was a late medieval state that developed around Sadiya in present Assam and adjoining areas in Arunachal Pradesh."(T)he Chutiyas seem to have assumed political power in Sadiya and contiguous areas falling ...
. The other branches of Bodo-Kacharis which include
Boro __NOTOC__
Boro may refer to:
People
* Boro people, indigenous peoples of Amazonas, Brazil
* A variant spelling for the Bodo people of northeast India
* Charan Boro, Indian politician
* Isaac Adaka Boro, a celebrated Niger Delta nationalist and Nig ...
s,
Dimasas,
Rabhas,
Tiwas, etc. have also been celebrating Bihu since ancient times. The Boros call it ''Baisagu'', while the Dimasas, Tiwa and Rabha call it ''Bushu'' or ''Bushu Dima'',
["Busu Dima festival begins in Dima Hasao"](_blank)
''Times Of India''''Pisu'', ''Dumsi'' respectively.
In local folklore, it is said that ''
Bordoisila
Bordoisila is a native Assamese word native to the state of Assam in India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by are ...
'' (
Bardai Sikhla in Bodo) (meaning north-westerly winds in Assamese) was the daughter of God Earth who married to a bridegroom of some distant land. Bordoisila visits her mother’s home once in year during spring time which indicates the beginning of Bihu and leaves after a few days which indicates the end of Bihu. Assam experience strong gale (wind) at that period which marks the beginning of Bihu and another strong gale after her departure which is devastating. The word ''Bordoisila'' is derived from the Bodo word ''Bordaisikhla'' which means "girl of storm" (Sikhla meaning girl and Bardai meaning storm). There is even a dance with the same name performed among Boro people during Baisagu which points to the origin of Bihu in the Bodo-Kachari groups.
["BOHAG BIHU"](_blank)
''Outlook India''
The first reference of Bihu can be found in the copperplate inscription of the
Chutia king Lakshminarayan. The inscription was found in
Ghilamara region of
Lakhimpur district
Lakhimpur district ( ) is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarter is located at North Lakhimpur. The district is bounded on the North by Siang and Papumpare districts of Arunachal Pradesh and on the Eas ...
in the year 1935 and it was issued in the year 1401 A.D. It states that the king Lakshminarayan has donated land grants to Brahmins on the auspicious occasion of Bihu. It reads,
This means that on the pious occasion of Bihu, a Brahmin named Dvija Ravidev was granted land by the king. This indicates that Bihu played an important role in the social life of people of Assam at that period.
The wooden Khol played in Majuli in early times (similar to the Mayamora Khul, Manipuri Pung) was later turned into the terracotta Mridanga (similar to the ones played in eastern India) by the Vaishnavite saint
Sankardev
Srimanta Sankardev( শ্ৰীমন্ত শংকৰদেৱ )(; ; 1449–1568) was a 15th–16th century Assamese polymath; a saint-scholar, poet, playwright, dancer, actor, musician, artist social-religious reformer and a figure of im ...
so that it could be used in art forms like dances and dramas.
Yet another reference of ''Bihu'' can be found in the ''Deodhai Buranji'' which mentions that the capital of the
Chutia kingdom
The Chutia Kingdom (also Sadiya) was a late medieval state that developed around Sadiya in present Assam and adjoining areas in Arunachal Pradesh."(T)he Chutiyas seem to have assumed political power in Sadiya and contiguous areas falling ...
, Sadiya was suddenly attacked by the Ahom forces on the first day of Bihu/Bisu in 1524 (first Wednesday of Bohag/Vaisakha), when the people were busy celebrating Bihu. The Ahom general Phrasenmung Borgohain upon the advise of a Chutia general (who sided with the enemies) played the Bihu Dhul (on Ujha Bisu day i.e. 7th Bohag/Vaisakha) to trick the Chutias which ultimately led to their defeat.
In early texts, Bohag Bihu celebrations started from the first week of
Chaitra
Chaitra (Hindi: चैत्र) is a month of the Hindu calendar.
In the standard Hindu calendar and India's national civil calendar, Chaitra is the first month of the year. It is the last month in the Bengali calendar, where it is called Cho ...
(''Chot'' in Assamese) month. The period from the first week of Chaitra till the end was known as ''Raati Bihu'' or ''Chotor Bihu''. During this period, young people danced at night in the grounds of the ''Than'' (temple). The last day of Chaitra or the first Tuesday of Bohag was when the Rati Bihu ended. This was known as the ''Uruka'' (derived from the Deori-Chutia ''Urukuwa'' meaning ''to end''). The temple dancers ''Deodhani'' danced the entire night and were believed to be possessed by the goddess ''Kechai-khati'' (kolimoti), signaling that she had descended upon earth from heaven (''Bihu nomai ona''). This belief of the goddess arriving during the Bihu season each year can still be found in Bihu songs as, The day after Uruka,i.e. the first Wednesday was celebrated as Goru Bihu. This tradition of cattle rites is same as that followed by the Boros in
Bwisagu indicating the common roots of both the festivals. During the night of Goru-bihu, people danced Bihu in separate groups in the Thans where animal sacrifice took place. After the sacrifices to the goddess, the young folk visited the households of the village, which was the start of ''Husori''. This old tradition of starting Husori from the temple is still followed by the Deoris, some Sonowals, Chutias and Morans as well as the people of
Sadiya
Sadiya is a town in Tinsukia district, Assam. It was the capital of the Chutia Kingdom and after the downfall of the kingdom it became the seat of the ''Sadiya-khowa-Gohain'' of the Ahom kingdom. Extensive remains of buildings and fortifica ...
. In other communities, the temple has been replaced by the ''Namghar''. The festivities of Bohag Bihu continued for a week and ended with the rite by which the goddess was bid farewell. In this rite, a boat was first prepared out of banana stem and decorated with flowers and offerings. Then, it was carried to the banks of the river where a duck/chicken was put inside the boat and allowed to float as a symbol of sacrifice. After performing the rite, the people returned to their homes, singing along the way with the beats of the Dhul and the tunes of the Pepa.
Some old Assamese Bihu folklore still hint to this tradition.
The modern form of Bihu dance was derived from the ''Faat Bihu'' dance celebrated in
Dhakuakhana
Dhakuakhana is a sub-division of Lakhimpur district in the north-eastern state Assam, India.
History
It started functioning in 1989 when naturalist-bureaucrat Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury of Assam Civil Service, joined as the first (founder) Sub-di ...
, Lakhimpur. The performers were called by the Ahom king Rudra Singha in 1694 to dance in the royal arena
Rang Ghar
The Rang Ghar (), ( Assamese: ৰংঘৰ, ''rong ghor'' meaning "House of Entertainment") is a two-storeyed building which once served as the royal sports-pavilion where Ahom kings and nobles were spectators at games like buffalo fights a ...
. The origin of ''Faat Bihu'' can be traced to
Sadiya
Sadiya is a town in Tinsukia district, Assam. It was the capital of the Chutia Kingdom and after the downfall of the kingdom it became the seat of the ''Sadiya-khowa-Gohain'' of the Ahom kingdom. Extensive remains of buildings and fortifica ...
. The word ''Faat'' in Deori-Chutia language means "to migrate". After the defeat of the Sadiyal Kacharis in Sadiya, the survivors were displaced from Sadiya to different places in the kingdom. A group of these people moved from Sadiya, to Dibrugarh and finally settled down in Harhi Sapori, Dhakuakhana. These people had brought the idols of god and goddess along with them and established a temple now known as Harhi Dewaloi. It was here that the first form of modern Bihu dance was developed. Later, in the 19th century, this form of Bihu dance was adopted by the other communities as well and started being performed in Mahguli sapori, Dhakuakhana by Chutias, Sonowals, Deoris, Ahoms, Mishing, etc.
Ahom contribution
![Lahori Gogona(Musical Instruments of Assam)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Lahori_Gogona%28Musical_Instruments_of_Assam%29.jpg)
Ahom King
Rudra Singha
Sukhrungphaa (reigned 1696–1714), or Swargadeo Rudra Singha, was a Tungkhungia ahom king and 30th king of the Ahom kingdom under whom the kingdom reached its zenith of power and glory, he is considered as the most illustrious of the Ah ...
gave patronage to Bihu and was also the first one to celebrate Bihu in the courtyard. This policy was later followed by his successors.
Indo-Aryan contribution
The Indo-Aryans upon their arrival in Assam helped in gradually
sanskritisation
Sanskritisation (or Sanskritization) is a term in sociology which refers to the process by which castes or tribes placed lower in the caste hierarchy seek 'upward' mobility by emulating the rituals and practices of the dominant castes or upper ...
of the native Bihu/Bisu to bring it to the present form. Being the pioneers of Astronomy, they further associated the term Bisu with the Visuvan day for coincidence of the Bohag Bihu with other springtime festivals observed elsewhere in India on this day and adopted the festival of the natives.
The three Bihu Festivals
Bohag Bihu
Bohag Bihu (mid-April, also called Rongali Bihu), the most popular Bihu celebrates the onset of the
Assamese New Year (around 14–15 April) and the coming of Spring. This marks the first day of the Hindu solar calendar and is also observed in Bengal, Manipur, Mithila, Nepal, Orissa, Punjab, Kerala and Tamil Nadu though called by different names. It's a time of merriment and feasting and continues, in general, for seven days. The farmers prepare the fields for cultivation of paddy and there is a feeling of joy around. The women make
pitha, ''larus'' (traditional food made of
rice
Rice is the seed of the grass species '' Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera '' Zizania'' and '' Porteresia'', both wild and domesticat ...
,
coconut) various drinks by local tribes such as Chuje by
Deoris, Nam-Lao by
Tai-Ahom, Aapong by Mising tribe and
Jolpan which gives the real essence of the season.
![Bathing cow on the eve of Goru bihu](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Bathing_cow_on_the_eve_of_Goru_bihu.jpg)
The first day of the bihu is called ''goru'' bihu or cow bihu, where the
cow
Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult ma ...
s are washed and worshipped, which falls on the last day of the previous year, usually on 14 April. This is followed by ''manuh'' (human) bihu on 15 April, 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 vigor. The third day is ''Gosai'' (Gods) bihu; statues of Gods, worshiped in all households are cleaned and worshiped asking for a smooth new year.
![Rhynchostylis gigantea of Assam](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Rhynchostylis_gigantea_of_Assam.jpg)
The folk songs associated with the Bohag Bihu are called Bihugeets or Bihu songs. The form of celebration and rites vary among different demographic groups.
The Seven days
Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu festival continues for seven days and called as
Haat Bihu. The seven days are known as Chot Bihu, Goru Bihu, Manuh Bihu, Kutum Bihu, Senehi Bihu, Mela Bihu and Chera Bihu.
Goru Bihu: The ''goru bihu'' or cattle worship rites are observed on the last day of the year. The cattle are washed, smeared with ground turmeric and other pastes, struck with sprigs of ''dighalati'' and ''makhiyati'' and endeared to be healthy and productive (''lao kha, bengena kha, bosore bosore barhi ja/maar xoru, baper xoru, toi hobi bor bor goru''—eat gourd, eat brinjal, grow from year to year/your mother is small, your father is small, but you be a large one). The old cattle ropes are cast away through the legs and new ropes are tied to them, and they are allowed to roam anywhere they wished for the entire day.
![Bathing cow on the eve of Goru bihu](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Bathing_cow_on_the_eve_of_Goru_bihu.jpg)
Manuh Bihu: The New Year day, the day after the ''goru bihu'', is called the ''manuh bihu''. Elders are shown respect, with gifts of ''bihuwan'' (a
gamosa), a ''hachoti'' (kerchief), a ''cheleng'' etc., and their blessings are sought. Children are given new clothes, and Husori singing begins on this day, and people visit their relatives and friends.
Husori: Village elders move from household to households singing carols, also in the style of ''bihu geets'', called ''husoris''.
![Husori in Bihu](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Husori_in_Bihu.jpg)
It possibly derives from the
Dimasa Kachari word formation ''ha'' (land) and ''char'' (move over): ''hachari''. Villages could have more than one Husori band, and they would visit households in a village non-contiguous to itself, first singing carols at the ''Naamghar''. The husari singers then visit individual households, by first announcing their arrival at the gate (''podulimukh'') with drum beats. The singers are traditionally welcomed into the courtyard where they sing the husori songs and perform a ring dance. At the end of the performance they are thanked with an offering ''dakshina'' of ''paan'' (betel leaf) ''tamul'' (areka nut) in a ''
xorai'' (brass dish with stand), whereupon the singers bless the household for the coming year. If there is a bereavement in the family, or the family does not invite the husori singers due to an illness, the husori band offers blessings from ''podulimukh'' and move on. Generally the singers are all male.
Faat Bihu: This is a very old form of Bihu, characterized by spontaneity, popular in the Lakhimpur area of Assam.
Mukoli Bihu: Young unmarried men and women attired in traditional golden silk ''
muga'' dance the bihu and sing bihu songs in the open fields. The songs have themes of romance and sexual love, requited or unrequited. Sometimes the songs describe tragic events too but treated very lightly. The dance celebrates female sexuality.
![Bihu dancers at Rongali Bihu celebration in Bangalore (photo - Jim Ankan Deka)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Bihu_dancers_at_Rongali_Bihu_celebration_in_Bangalore_%28photo_-_Jim_Ankan_Deka%29.jpg)
Jeng Bihu: This is Bihu dance and song performed and watched only by women. The name "jeng" comes from the fact that in earlier days women in the villages used to surround the place of their performance with sticks dug into the ground called ''jeng'' in Assamese. It is also called ''gos tolor bihu'' (Bihu beneath the tree).
Baisago: The
Bodo-Kachari people celebrate for seven days—the first day for cattle (''Magou''), the second day for man (''Mansoi'') and ancestor worship, feasting, singing and merriment. Songs follow the same themes as the Bihu songs.
Bihutoli Bihu: The rural festival made its transition to urban life when it was first time brought to the stage in Lataxil field in Guwahati by the Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani in 1962, promoted by leading citizens like Radha Govinda Baruah and others. Bihu to a great extent has been popularized by the Bihu 'Samrat'( king ), of Assam, Khagen Mahanta. Unlike the rural version, the dancers danced on a makeshift elevated stage in an open area that came to be known as a ''Bihutoli''.
![Rongali bihu](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Rongali_bihu.jpg)
Many such Bihutolis have sprouted since then in Guwahati and other urban areas. The performances are not confined to the Bihu dance form but may incorporate all forms of theatrical performances to keep the audience enthralled well into the early hours. Performances could include standup comedy, to concerts by solo singers. The stage form of Bihu has become so popular, that organizers have begun extending the celebrations to ''bohagi bidai'', or farewell to the ''Bohag'' month, which is similar performances held a month later.
Saat Bihu: Rongali Bihu also called ''saat Bihu'' (seven Bihus). It celebrates seven days, it's called so. On the other hand, Rangali Bihu is constitute of seven different types of Bihu -Goru Bihu (Cow Bihu), Manuh Bihu, Xat Bihu, Senehi Bihu, Maiki Bihu, Rongali Bihu, and Sera Bihu. Actually, first day to pay respect to cows and other days for social activities.
Kati Bihu
Kongali Bihu (mid-October, also called ''Kati-Bihu'') has a different flavor as there is less merriment and the atmosphere has a sense of constraining and solemnity. 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. On this day, earthen lamps (''saki'') are lit at the foot of the household
tulsi
''Ocimum tenuiflorum'', commonly known as holy basil, ''tulsi'' or ''tulasi'', is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian ...
plant, the granary, the garden (''bari'') and the paddy fields. In ancient times, earthen lamps were lit all around the paddy fields to attract the insects, thus acting as a natural insectide. 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. During the evening, cattle are fed specially made rice items called ''pitha''. Kati Bihu is known as ''Kati Gasa'' by the
Bodo people
Boro (बर'/बड़ो ), also called Bodo, is the largest ethnolinguistic group in the Assam state of India. They are a part of the greater Bodo-Kachari family of ethnolinguistic groups and are spread across northeastern India. They are ...
and ''Gathi Sainjora'' by the
Dimasa people
The Dimasa people () are an ethnolinguistic community presently inhabiting in Assam and Nagaland states in Northeastern India. They speak Dimasa, a Tibeto-Burman language. This community is fairly homogeneous and exclusive, with members requ ...
. The
Bodo people
Boro (बर'/बड़ो ), also called Bodo, is the largest ethnolinguistic group in the Assam state of India. They are a part of the greater Bodo-Kachari family of ethnolinguistic groups and are spread across northeastern India. They are ...
light lamps at the foot of the ''siju'' (''
Euphorbia
''Euphorbia'' is a very large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family Euphorbiaceae. "Euphorbia" is sometimes used in ordinary English to collectively refer to all members of Euphorbiaceae (in deference to t ...
neriifolia'') 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, a practice that is common to many communities in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, as well as Asia and Europe. Kati bihu is generally celebrated on 19 october, as it is almost mid-October.
Magh Bihu
Bhogali Bihu (mid-January, also called Magh Bihu) comes from the word ''Bhog'' that is eating and enjoyment. 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. 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 bonfire or ''Meji'', . the most important thing for the night. During the night, they prepare food and there is community feasting everywhere. There is also the exchange of sweets and greetings at this time. The entire night (called Uruka) is spent around a ''Meji'' with people singing bihu songs, beating
Dhol
Dhol (IPA: ) can refer to any one of a number of similar types of double-headed drum widely used, with regional variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent. Its range of distribution in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan primarily includes nort ...
, 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 ''
Pitha''s (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 favorable 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. There are other conventional festivals observed by various
ethnic-cultural groups. Me-dam-me-phi, Ali-aye-ligang, Porag, Garja, Hapsa Hatarnai, Kherai are few among them. The koch celebrates this bihu as .
Instruments used in Bihu
*
Dhol
Dhol (IPA: ) can refer to any one of a number of similar types of double-headed drum widely used, with regional variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent. Its range of distribution in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan primarily includes nort ...
(Drum)
*
Taal
*
Pepa
Performance Evaluation Process Algebra (PEPA) is a stochastic process algebra designed for modelling computer and communication systems introduced by Jane Hillston in the 1990s. The language extends classical process algebras such as Robin Milne ...
(An instrument made of buffalo horn)
*
Toka
*
Baanhi (
Flute)
*
Xutuli
Xutuli is a musical instrument used during the Bihu#Rongali Bihu, Rongali Bihu festival in Assam, India. It can either be made from clay or the lower end of a bamboo tree which is left after the main part falls or is cut off.
Description
The in ...
*
Gogona
Bihu elsewhere
Bihu is also seen to be celebrated abroad. Many Bihu associations/committees exist elsewhere where this festival is celebrated with enthusiasm. The London Bihu Committee (LBC), UK is one of them among others.
Related festivals
The Bohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu) festive day is celebrated elsewhere but called by other name.
[Crump, William D. (2014)]
Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide
MacFarland, page 114 Some examples of related festivals in Asia include:
Indian subcontinent:
*
Vaisakhi
Vaisakhi ( Punjabi: ), also pronounced Baisakhi, marks the first day of the month of Vaisakh and is traditionally celebrated annually on 13 April and sometimes 14 April as a celebration of spring harvest primarily in Northern India. Further, o ...
in
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...
, India
*
Vishu
Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു), the traditional Malayali New Year, is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka, and Mahe district. The festival marks the first day of Medam, the first month of ...
in
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
, India
*
Pohela Boishakh
Pohela Boishakh ( bn, পহেলা বৈশাখ) is the first day of the Bengali calendar which is also the official calendar of Bangladesh. This festival is celebrated on 14 April in Bangladesh and 15 April in the Indian states of W ...
in
West Bengal
West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fou ...
, India
*
Puthandu
Puthandu (), also known as Puthuvarudam, and the Tamil New Year, is the first day of year on the Tamil calendar, traditionally celebrated as a festival by Tamil Hindus. The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the lunisolar Hindu cal ...
in
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...
, India
*
Vaishak Ek in
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...
*
Sinhalese New Year in
Sri Lanka.
East Asia:
*
Cambodian New Year
Cambodian New Year (or Khmer New Year; km, បុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំខ្មែរ ), also known as Choul Chnam Thmey ( km, ចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី ; ) and Moha Sangkranta ( km, មហាសង្ក្រាន្ ...
in
Cambodia
Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailan ...
,
Thingyan
Thingyan (, ; Arakanese: ; from Sanskrit '' saṁkrānti,'' which means "transit f the Sun from Pisces to Aries) is the Burmese New Year Festival that usually occurs in middle of April. Thingyan is the first ever water festival celebrated in ...
in
Burma
Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...
,
Songkran festival in
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
and other festivals of
East Asia
East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both Geography, geographical and culture, ethno-cultural terms. The modern State (polity), states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. ...
and
South-East Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...
However, this is not the universal new year for all Hindus. For some, such as those in and near Gujarat, the new year festivities coincide with the five day
Diwali festival. For others, the new year falls on
Ugadi
Ugadi or Yugadi, also known as Samvatsarādi (), is New Year's Day according to the Hindu calendar and is celebrated in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka in India. It is festively observed in these regions on the first ...
and
Gudi Padwa
Gudhi Padwa is a spring-time festival that marks the traditional new year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus, but is also celebrated by other Hindus as well. It is celebrated in and around Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and the union terr ...
, which falls about two weeks before Bohag Bihu.
See also
*
Bihu Songs of Assam
Notes
References
*
*
*
* Das, Debendra Prasad
Rongali Bihu through the ages', The Assam Tribune, 14 April 2007.
* Dowerah, Sawpon
Rongali Bihu-the spring festival of Assam', The Assam Tribune, 14 April 2007.
* Goswami, Prafulladatta (1988) ''Bohag Bihu of Assam and Bihu songs'', Publication Board, Assam.
*
Web sources
External links
{{Fairs and Festivals in Assam
January observances
April observances
October observances
Symbols of Assam
Festivals in Assam
Culture of Assam
New Year in India
Tourism in Northeast India