BIHU
Assam, known as the land of blue hills and red river, is also a land of many feasts and festivals. Bihu is one of the most important festivals of Assam. The word Bihu is derived from two words- Bi meaning to ask and Hu meaning to give. The festival of Bihu is primarily linked to the cycle of paddy cultivation. The festival continues for seven days. The farmers prepare their fields with great joy and enthusiasm for cultivation. The festival is of three kinds and is celebrated thrice a year.
Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu is celebrated in April, Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu in January, and Kati or Kongali Bihu in October or November. The festival entertains the celebration of farming, particularly paddy.
Bohag Bihu is to celebrate the beginning of the sowing of the seeds. This one is the most entertaining festival. It is celebrated in spring and is also referred to as Rongali Bihu. The festival is a symbol of dance, bliss, happiness, and music. The celebrations include burning torches in the fields by men and playing the buffalo horn called Pepa. Moreover, livestock is worshipped, which is considered to be the chief source of earning. Dance performances are held indoor and outdoor locations. Kati Bihu is to celebrate the fulfillment of the sowing and transplantation of the saplings. Kong means poor because there is not much left to eat. The festival is celebrated by lighting candles, earthen lamps in front of the Tulasi plant to worship Goddess Lakshmi for a whole month. The Tulsi plant holds a sacred place in Hinduism. The candles are even lit up in paddy fields for the excellent health of the crops.
Bhogali Bihu is to celebrate the arrival of harvest time. The word Bhog means fun, enjoyment, and eating. On the eve called ‘Uruka’ young men build a makeshift cottage known as ‘Bhelaghar’ with the hay of the harvest crops and the ‘Meji’ at the night along the banks of the river. The elders are gifted Gamosas a traditional kind of cloth with red borders to show respect. One of the distinctive features of this festival is that in some parts different types of sports like Buffalo fight, cock-fight, Nightingale-fight is organized for amusement. Bihu holds the most important part of the Assamese culture. The folk dance of Assam, Bihu dance is the most important part of the festival. People all around the state dance to the rhythms produced through the instruments like Dhol, Taal, Pepa, Toka, Gogona, Baanhi, and Xutuli.
The special cuisines made during the festival are pithas, Larus which are made of rice and coconut, and different types of drinks are prepared by the local tribes like Chuje, Namlao, Aapong, and Japan. 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. Since Assam is an agrarian region with the Brahmaputra River being the primary source of water, the three festivals are the prime festivals of the state.
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