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Location: Jorhat, Assam
Bohag Bihu, also known as Rangali Bihu, is Assam’s most vibrant and widely celebrated festival. Recognized as the state’s national festival, it transcends caste, community, and religion, bringing together everyone in a spirit of unity and joy. Deeply rooted in the agricultural calendar, this festival marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year, which starts with the first day of the month of Bohag.
Assam celebrates three major Bihus aligned with the agricultural cycle:
- Bohag Bihu (Rangali Bihu) – celebrating the onset of sowing,
- Kati Bihu (Kongali Bihu) – observed during the growing season,
- Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) – a thanksgiving festival post-harvest.
Bohag Bihu is celebrated over seven days, beginning on the last day of the previous month, known as Chat Sankranti, and continuing into the first six days of Bohag. Each day has a special significance and name:
- Goru Bihu (Cow Bihu) – On this day, cows, considered sacred and vital to agriculture, are bathed and cared for. Before bathing, a symbolic mixture of vegetables like eggplant, garlic, turmeric, and gourds is rubbed on them with chants wishing for their health and growth. In the evening, cows are offered traditional sweets (pitha-pana), adorned with new ropes (pagha), and blessed with leaves to ward off flies and insects.
- Manuh Bihu (People’s Bihu) – Celebrated on Bohag’s first day, it’s a time for personal cleansing and blessings. People begin the day with baths, wear new clothes, seek blessings from elders, and gift traditional hand-woven cloth known as ‘Bihuwan’.
- Gosai Bihu – This day is dedicated to honoring deities. Prayers are offered for a prosperous year ahead.
- Tatar Bihu (Weaver’s Bihu) – A special day for weavers, where tools are cleaned and prepared for the coming season. It’s a symbolic nod to the importance of weaving in Assamese culture.
- Nangal Bihu – Focused on agriculture, farmers worship their ploughs and tools, preparing for the season ahead.
- Jiyari or Chenehi Bihu (Daughter’s Bihu) – A heartwarming day when married daughters return to their parental homes to celebrate, symbolizing familial bonds and love.
- Chera Bihu – The final day, marked by feasting on an elaborate spread that may include dozens of vegetable dishes and rice preparations. Community singing of Huchari—a traditional Bihu song—is an integral part of the celebration. Groups of singers visit homes to perform and bless the household, sometimes continuing through the entire month in rural areas.
Bohag Bihu, beyond being a festive celebration, is a beautiful blend of Assam’s rich agricultural heritage, cultural traditions, and familial warmth.