What is Rongali Bihu?

What is Rongali Bihu?

The state of Assam has the Assamese new year festival is known as Bihu, which is actually a set of three different festivals celebrated at different times of the year. Here’s a brief overview of each of the three Bihu festivals:

Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu

This is the most important of the three Bihu festivals and marks the beginning of the Assamese new year. It is celebrated in mid-April and coincides with the arrival of spring and the onset of the agricultural season.

People prepare special dishes like pitha and larus, and perform traditional dances like the Bihu dance.

Rongali Bihu is a time for people to celebrate their cultural heritage and express their gratitude to nature for its bounty.

Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu: This festival is celebrated in mid-October and is also known as the “festival of the poor”. It is a time when the fields are barren and people pray for a good harvest. People light lamps in their homes and offer prayers to the Tulsi plant. Kati Bihu is a time for people to reflect on their blessings and appreciate the simple pleasures of life.

Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu: This festival is celebrated in mid-January and marks the end of the harvest season. People build bonfires and prepare traditional Assamese delicacies like pitha, laru, and fish. It is a time for people to come together and celebrate the fruits of their labor.

The new year festivals mentioned above are specific to the cultural and religious traditions of India.