Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu also called Xaat Bihu is a traditional ethnic festival celebrated in the Northeastern Indian state of Assam and other parts of Northeastern India by the indigenous ethnic groups of Assam, and marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year and also to welcome the spring season. It also celebrates the commencement of the harvesting season. This year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the mega Bihu celebration which is scheduled to be held in Guwahati on April 14.
It usually falls in the 2nd week of April, historically signifying the time of harvest. Every year it falls on the 14th day of April. The holiday unites the different native communities of Assam regardless of their backgrounds and promotes the celebration of ethnic diversity.
BIHU
Agriculture plays a substantial role in Assamese economy, engaging about half of the total working population and generating roughly one-third of the state’s gross product. So, Bihu is celebrated with great fervour and gaiety. Despite technological advancements, cattle plays an indispensable role in agriculture till today too. Bihu is a set of three important non-religious festivals unique to the Indian state of Assam.
‘Rongali’ or ‘Bohag Bihu‘ observed in April
‘Kongali’ or ‘Kati Bihu’ observed in October, and
‘Bhogali’ or ‘Magh Bihu‘ observed in January.
The Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu is the most important of the three, celebrating spring festival. The Bhogali Bihu or the Magh Bihu is a harvest festival, with community feasts. The Kongali Bihu or the Kati Bihu is the sombre, thrifty one reflecting a season of short supplies and is an animistic festival.
Like some other Indian festivals, Bihu is associated with agriculture, and rice in particular. Bohag Bihu is a sowing festival, Kati Bihu is associated with crop protection and worship of plants and crops and is an animistic form of the festival, while Bhogali Bihu is a harvest festival.
The word Bihu has been derived from the Deori (a Boro-Garo language) word Bisu which means “excessive joy”. Original form of Bihu continue among the Chutias, Sonowal Kacharis and Deoris. These groups, known as Sadiyal Kacharis were associated with the historical Kingdom of Sadiya. The other branches of Bodo-Kacharis which include Boros, Dimasas, Rabhas, Tiwas, etc. have also been celebrating Bihu since ancient times.
The Boros call it Baisagu, while the Dimasas, Tiwa and Rabha call it Bushu or BushuDima,Pisu, Dumsi respectively. Assameese celebrate the Rongali Bihu with feasts, music and dancing. Some hang brass, copper or silver pots on poles in front of their house, while children wear flower garlands then greet the new year as they pass through the rural streets.
Three Bihu Festivals
Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu
Bohag Bihu (mid-April, also called Rongali Bihu), the most popular Bihu celebrates the onset of the Assamese New Year (around 14–15 April) and the coming of Spring. This marks the first day of the Hindu solar calendar and is also observed in Bengal, Manipur, Mithila, Nepal, Orissa, Punjab, Kerala and Tamil Nadu though called by different names. It’s a time of merriment and feasting and continues, in general, for seven days.
The farmers prepare the fields for cultivation of paddy and there is a feeling of joy around. The women make pitha, larus (traditional food made of rice, coconut) various drinks by local tribes such as Chuje by Deoris, Nam-Lao by Tai-Ahom, Aapong by Mising tribe and Jolpan which gives the real essence of the season. The folk songs associated with the Bohag Bihu are called Bihugeets or Bihu songs. The form of celebration and rites vary among different demographic groups.
The Seven days
Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu festival continues for seven days and called as Haat Bihu. The seven days are as follows:
1. Goru Bihu
On the occasion of Goru Bihu, the cattle of the villages is bought to a single water source and thoroughly washed and cleaned with the help of turmeric and black gram paste. The cattle is then offered different kind of vegetables as food and prayers are offered thanking them for their help in giving the farmers a good harvest. In the evening, the animals are bought back to their shed and offered spcial food items like Bor Pitha.
2. Manuah Bihu
On the occasion of Manuah Bihu, people have a traditional bath using turmeric, they alos clean their house holsd and wear traditional clothes. They visit their relatives and seek blessings from the elders. Gifts are exchanged during this occasion and almost every family offers the elders a Bihuwan or the Gamusa cloth as a symbol of respect. Many families write Sanskrit mantras on Nahar leaves and hide it behind the roof. This ritual bears a symbolic significance and is done with the intention of seeking protection from all elements of nature. In lower Assam, Manuh Bihu is also called as Bor Domahi.
3. Goasain Bihu
On the occasion of Gosain Bihu, the Gods are worshiped and traditional songs are sung in village namghars. People seek protection and blessing for a good harvest.
4. Tator Bihu
Tatxal is the most adorable asset of every Assamese household. To provide a special space in people’s life the fourth day of Bihu is celebrated as Tator Bihu.
5. Nangolor Bihu
Nangol is the chief tool among the others for agriculture. The fifth day of Bihu is called Nangolor Bihu
6. Jiyori or Senehi Bihu
On the sixth day, the daughters come to their parents’ house to celebrate Bihu. That’s why its called Jiyori bihu. Again Senehi Bihu is day that is reserved exclusively for lovers. The day symbolizes love. On this day youths meet their beloved and give them gifts usually known as “Bihuwan” and thus its also called Senehi Bihu.
7. Sera Bihu
Sera Bihu is the last day of the celebrations. On this day, during ancient times the king used to participate in a fair along with his subjects. This practice is observed even till this date and fairs are organized in the different part of the states, where people come and participate in large numbers.
Kati Bihu
Kongali Bihu also called Kati-Bihu has a different flavor as there is less merriment and the atmosphere has a sense of constraining and solemnity. During this time of the year, the paddy in the fields are in the growing stage and the granaries of the farmers are almost empty. On this day, earthen lamps (saki) are lit at the foot of the household tulsi plant, the granary, the garden (bari) and the paddy fields. In ancient times, earthen lamps were lit all around the paddy fields to attract the insects, thus acting as a natural insecticide.
To protect the maturing paddy, cultivators whirl a piece of bamboo and recite rowa-khowa chants and spells to ward off pests and the evil eye.
During the evening, cattle are fed specially made rice items called pitha. Kati Bihu is known as Kati Gasa by the Bodo people and Gathi Sainjora by the Dimasa people. The Bodo people light lamps at the foot of the siju (Euphorbia neriifolia) tree. This Bihu is also associated with the lighting of akaxi gonga or akaxbonti, lamps at the tip of a tall bamboo pole, to show the souls of the dead the way to heaven, a practice that is common to many communities in India, as well as Asia and Europe. Kati bihu is generally celebrated on 19 october, as it is almost mid-October.
Magh Bihu
Bhogali Bihu also called Magh Bihu comes from the word Bhog that is eating and enjoyment. It is a harvest festival and marks the end of harvesting season. Since the granaries are full, there is a lot of feasting and eating during this period. On the eve of the day called uruka, i.e. the last day of pausa, menfolk, more particularly young men go to the field, preferably near a river, build a makeshift cottage called Bhelaghar with the hay of the harvest fields and the bonfire or Meji, . the most important thing for the night.
During the night, they prepare food and there is community feasting everywhere. There is also the exchange of sweets and greetings at this time. The entire night (called Uruka) is spent around a Meji with people singing bihu songs, beating Dhol, a typical kind of drums or playing games.
Boys roam about in the dark stealing firewood and vegetables for fun. The next morning they take a bath and burn the main Meji. People gather around the Meji and throw Pithas (rice cakes) and betel nuts to it while burning it at the same time. They offer their prayers to the god of Fire and mark the end of the harvesting year. Thereafter they come back home carrying pieces of half burnt firewood for being thrown among fruit trees for favorable results. All the trees in the compound are tied to bamboo strips or paddy stems.
Different types of sports like Buffalo-fight, Egg-fight, Cock-fight, Nightingale-fight etc. are held throughout the day. There are other conventional festivals observed by various ethnic-cultural groups. Me-dam-me-phi, Ali-aye-ligang, Porag, Garja, Hapsa Hatarnai, Kherai are few among them. The koch celebrates this bihu as pushna.
April 14 and 15 are auspicious and historic days across India for various reasons. It is celebrated as ‘Puthandu’ in Tamil Nadu (14th), ‘Vishu’ in Kerala (14th), ‘Baisakhi’ in Punjab (14th), ‘Poila Boishak’ in West Bengal (15th), ‘Pana Sankranti’ in Odisha (14th) and ‘Rongali Bihu’ in Assam (15th).