Bihu

    Bihu is the state festival of Assam. It is celebrated on the occasion of preparation for cultivation of fields for cultivation. It generally falls on March every year. Bihu is also known as the new year for Assamese.  It is celebrated for about 7 days.

    There are 3 types of bihu. They are bhogali bihu/ magh, rongali bihu or boharg bihu, kati bihu or kongaali bihu. Goru bihu is the festival where cows are worshipped. It is celebrated on 1st day of bihu. Second day is manuh bihu which is celebrated as New Year day. On the day of goru bihu, cow (gomatha) is worshiped. Cow is treated as the abode of gods and goddesses and is worshipped with great reverence. Bhogaali bihu is celebrated after the harvest.

    People celebrate the festival with great pomp and gaiety. Greetings and good wishes are 0exchanged between friends and relations in the form of gifts, largely sweets. Special dishes are made on the occasion of bihu like pitha, laru; jolphares. The rejoicings which give vitality to the celebrations extol the invincibility of all that is virtuous, noble and sublime. People dress themselves in boisterous colours and perform the puja. People revel and rejoice with family and friends receiving and offering felicitations and sweets. People sing and dance merrily and this is known as bihu dance. Songs sung are known as bihu geets or bihu folk songs or husori’s. On the whole bihu is the festival for Assamese, which they celebrate with great joy and happiness.