Bihu

Bihu is a set of folk festivals observed in the Indian state of Assam and by Assamese communities. The term refers to seasonal celebrations tied to the agricultural cycle and rural life. Three major Bihus mark the year: Rongali or Bohag Bihu in spring, Kongali or Kati Bihu in autumn, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu in winter. All three share a common spirit of music, dance and community feasting, but each emphasizes different agricultural stages and rituals.

Rongali Bihu, the most widely celebrated, occurs in mid-April to welcome spring and the Assamese new year. The season is marked by festive music and dance known as Bihu, performed by men and women, with instruments such as the dhol (drum), pepa (buffalo hornpipe), and cymbals. People wear traditional attire—men in dhoti and kurta, women in mekhela chador—and share festive foods such as pitha and laru.

Kati Bihu, observed around October or November, marks the lean agricultural period between sowing and the main harvest. It is a more subdued festival that includes prayers and rituals in homes and temples, and the lighting of lamps in fields and on thresholds as a sign of hope for harvest.

Magh Bihu, or Bhogali Bihu, falls in January and celebrates the harvest. It is known for community feasts and large bonfires, called meji, where villages gather to cook and share foods like pitha, laru, and other sweets. Bihu dances and songs are performed during the celebrations, often in open spaces and by temporary shelters called chauka.

Bihu is considered the cultural heart of Assam, reflecting agrarian life, social unity, and regional identity. It is celebrated across rural and urban areas and has become a symbol of Assamese heritage, permeating music, dance, and arts beyond the state, including diaspora communities.