13 April 2024
Assam Regional holiday | Saturday |
Bohag Bihu is the traditional regional festival of the state of Assam. It celebrated in the Indian state of Assam on April 14th every year. Several days of public holidays are declared depending on what day of the week it falls on and it is also sometimes a public holiday in the neighbouring state of Arunachal Pradesh. It is known as Rongali Bihua and is the national festival of the northeastern state of Assam, known for its tea gardens, green forests and river Brahmaputra.
The Assamese celebrate three festivals of Bihu during the year. Rongaali Bihu or Bohag Bihu in April, Kati Bihu or Kongaali Bihu in October and Magh Bihu or Bhogaali Bihu. Each of these festivals marks a distinct phase of the farming calendar in Assam. Bohag Bihu marks the seeding time, the Kati Bihu marks the completion of sowing and transplantation of the saplings and finally, Magh Bihu marks the culmination of the harvesting period.
Bohag Bihu is the most important festival of the three. It is celebrated in the month of Bohaag which falls in April, the first month of the Assamese calendar and thus marks the advent of the Assamese New Year. This Bihu is also known as Rongaali meaning Joy in Assamese. Bohag Bihu begins on April 14th and is celebrated for seven days. The first day of the Bihu is called Garu Bihu. On this day the household cattle are taken to the river and bathed. On the second day of Bihu called Manuh Bihu, people take a bath with a paste of turmeric. Various pithas or rice cakes and Larus or Laddus are eaten by families. The next day of Bihu is the Guxai Bihu or Bihu of the household deities. The fourth day is Taator Bihu or Bihu for the handlooms. Next comes the Nangolor Bihu for the farming equipment. The sixth-day Gharosia Jibar Bihu is meant for domestic animals. The seventh and last day is called Chera Bihu.