The Three Bihus of Assam
In
a year there are three Bihu festivals in Assam - in the months of
Bohaag (Baisakh, the middle of April), Maagh (the middle of January),
and Kaati (Kartik, the middle of October). The Bihus have been
celebrated in Assam since ancient times. Each Bihu coincides with a
distinctive phase in the farming calendar. The most important and
colourful of the three Bihu festival is the Spring festival "Bohag
Bihu" or Rongali Bihu celebrated in the middle of April. This is also
the beginning of the agricultural season.
Rongali
Bihu (mid-April, also called Bohag Bihu), the most popular Bihu
celebrates the onset of the Assamese New Year (around April 15) and the
coming of Spring. This marks the first day of the Hindu solar calendar
and is also observed in Bengal, Manipur, 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 and coconut) and Jolpan which gives the real essence of
the season. The first day of the bihu is called goru bihu or cow bihu,
where the cows are washed and worshipped, which falls on the last day
of the previous year, usually on April 14. This is followed by manuh
(human) bihu on April 15, the New Year Day. This is the day of getting
cleaned up, wearing new cloths and celebrating and getting ready for
the new year with fresh vigor. The third day is Gosai (Gods) bihu;
statues of Gods, worshiped in all households are cleaned and worshiped
asking for a smooth new year.
