Bohag Bihu ব’হাগ বিহু, also known as Rongali Bihu ৰংগালী বিহু  , is the most widely celebrated festival in Assam. It marks the Assamese New Year অসমীয়া নতুন বছৰ and the beginning of the spring season বসন্ত ঋতু , typically falling in mid-April. Bohag Bihu celebrates the onset of the agricultural cycle and the arrival of spring, symbolizing renewal, hope, and joy. The festival lasts for several days and is filled with music সংগীত, dance নাচ, feasting ভোজ খোৱা, and traditional customs পৰম্পৰাগত প্ৰথা.

Key Features of Bohag Bihu:

1. Welcoming the New Year: Bohag Bihu coincides with the Assamese New Year (Bohag Month) and is a time to offer prayers for a prosperous year ahead. It is a period of great joy and excitement as people bid farewell to the old year and prepare to welcome a new cycle of farming and harvest.
2. Cultural Celebrations: One of the highlights of Bohag Bihu is the Bihu Dance and Bihu songs বিহু গীত. Both men and women, dressed in traditional Assamese attire পৰম্পৰাগত অসমীয়া সাজ-পোছাক, participate in these lively performances. The dancers wear colorful mekhela chador মেখেলা চাদৰ (for women) and dhoti-gamosa ধোতি-গামোছা (for men), and the dance is accompanied by the beats of traditional instruments like the dhol ঢোল, pepa পেঁপা (hornpipe), and gagana বাইী. Bihu songs, known as Bihu Geet, celebrate love, youth, and the beauty of nature.
3. Feasting: As with other Assamese festivals, food plays an important role during Bohag Bihu. Traditional Assamese dishes such as pitha পিঠা (rice cakes), laru লাৰু (sweet balls made from sesame seeds or coconut), and other sweet and savory items are prepared. Families come together to cook and enjoy these dishes, symbolizing unity and prosperity.
4. Goru Bihu গৰু বিহু  (Cattle Worship): The first day of Bohag Bihu is known as Goru Bihu, dedicated to the welfare of cattle, which are crucial for farming in Assam. On this day, farmers take their cattle to nearby rivers or ponds, bathe them, and apply turmeric and black lentils মাটি দালি to their bodies as a form of purification. The cattle are then fed special treats and prayed for their good health, as they are vital to agricultural activities.
5. Manuh Bihu মানুহ বিহু   (People’s Bihu): The second day of Bohag Bihu is Manuh Bihu, which focuses on people. It is a day for seeking blessings from elders, wearing new clothes, and exchanging gifts. The young touch the feet of their elders to seek blessings for a prosperous and healthy life.
6. Husori and Jeng Bihu হুঁচৰি আৰু জেং বিহু  : Groups of people, especially young men, go from house to house singing Husori songs, blessing families with good fortune and happiness. In return, the hosts offer them gifts and food. Similarly, Jeng Bihu is performed by women in some parts of Assam, where they sing and dance to bring blessings to the community.

Significance of Bohag Bihu:

Bohag Bihu is not just a festival, it is a celebration of life, nature, and the spirit of the Assamese people. It brings together communities, strengthens social bonds, and highlights the agrarian lifestyle of Assam. The festival is a beautiful blend of ancient traditions, agricultural significance, and modern joy, as it ushers in the Assamese New Year with optimism and cheer.

Bohag Bihu is a celebration of love, joy, and renewal, marking a fresh start for farmers and families alike. It reflects the strong connection between the people of Assam and the land they live on, as well as the richness of Assamese culture and tradition.