Rongali Bihu Festival

April, in Assam is a season of tender leaves on the trees, fragrance of flowers in full bloom, sound of chirping birds and the gurgling brooks. It’s the season of spring that brings joy, strength and hope for the people of all ages in the land of red river and blue hills. If spring comes can the festivity be far behind? Never. Spring, the queen of the seasons does not come alone. Fresh showers hastens the buds to bloom brightly from atop the hills down to the valleys. Then  the people make it their best occasion to welcome the traditional Assamese new calendar year with the much-vaunted Rongali Bihu. “Rongali” means merriment. The weeklong spring festival of joy and merriment takes place in mid April marking the advent of the new period of rice cultivation.

Since cow is an essential part of traditional Assamese society, the entire festival begins with cow worship. Popularly known as Goru Bihu, the male folks worship cow after allowing them to bath in the nearby rivers or water bodies. Then they were offered fruits and vegetables include bitter guards, brinjal, turmeric. In some areas the cows are garlanded apart from serving special cakes meant for them on the occasion.

The huge and hectic day falls on the next day where dressed in traditional attire the people celebrate in the day. The striking feature is the Bihu Huchoris. The troupes comprising the people with drums, cymbals, bamboo made mouth organs, flutes and buffalo horn pipes perform door to door huchori with songs and dances. The boys wear traditional Assamese towel “Gamucha” on their heads while the dancing girls dressed in traditional attire “mekhela chadar” take orchid on their heads. The Bihu songs, mostly, deal with the way of life the farming community, their loves, hopes and aspiration and what not. Love often dominates the songs in their lips. The bihu songs speak volumes of Assamese and their culture and tradition. Some landmark historical events and the way of life of the farming fraternity also find an echo in the folksongs. Every household honour the Bihu troupes with Bihuwans and cash.

“Gamucha” takes a huge role in the traditional Assamese society which is a skilfully woven tapestry to be gifted to the near and dear ones to participate in the Bihu huchori. The young ones visit the elders to seek their blessings while the elders pray to the God for the well being of the young ones.

The delicious dish on this occasion include beaten rice, curd, cakes and pastries. The domestic and foreign tourists take much delights as they arrive in the state to share the joy of the festival.

In the urban areas, cultural functions are lined up to celebrate the occasion where huge artists are invited to perform on the stage. This is an occasion for Assam and its people to showcase their rich socio cultural heritage which never end even in the face of any disaster. Bihu will stay in the heart and blood of the Assamese so long as the civilization is allowed to remain intact. Only Bihu will keep the tradition and culture alive on this planet.