The Rongali Bihu Festival in Assam

Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu is the main festival of Assam celebrated at the arrival of spring. Bohag means color and joy. Therefore, Bohag Bihu is also called Rongali Bihu.

Rongali Bihu is considered to be the festival of youth. Bohag or Rangali Bihu is celebrated for seven consecutive days. It starts on the day of Chat Sankranti and lasts for seven days.

Each day of Bihu has a different name. This is known as Sat Bihu. There are many different types of Bihu, including Manuh Bihu, Goru Bihu, Xaat Bihu, Senehi Bihu, Maiki Bihu, Rongali Bihu and Sera Bihu. One of the days on the north bank of the Brahmaputra is also celebrated as Gosai Bihu.

During this time of Bihu, when the flowers dance in the trees and plants, when the birds start singing in the forest, people's minds and souls are excited by the touch of spring. There is a lot of enthusiasm and new morale in the heart of the people when they hear the news of the arrival of Rangali Bihu.

There are many different types of Bihu, including Garu Bihu. People celebrate Garu Bihu at the beginning of Bihu for the welfare of their cattle. On the first day of Bihu, the cows are bathed with honey and garlic and carried out according to the rituals and with a fine trident-shaped bamboo. Chopped garlic, eggplant, carrots, onion, garlic etc. are thrown on the body to enhance the vitality of the cows.

In addition, everyone gathers together to sing Bihu songs and perform Bihu dances.

This festival is celebrated by young men and women who celebrate Bihu at night and find their life partners in the middle of Bihu. However, the tradition of going to the houses of the villagers, rich and poor, to sing Huchori on the day of Satbihu has almost disappeared.

There is also a belief associated with the tradition of eating seven vegetables during Bihu. In the month of Bohag, women go to the fields to pick vegetables with sarai on their heads, singing songs and lighting candles and lanterns in a piece of land.

In Upper Assam, it is traditional to eat mango, jackfruit, lentils and potatoes during Bihu. In some places, such vegetables are eaten in the evening on the day of Garu Bihu.

There are many ways to celebrate Bihu, including sprinkling garlic water around the house and eating poita and yogurt on the day of Sera Bihu. There are also traditions such as egg fighting, coin games, planting trees, etc.