Assam's cultural tapestry is as diverse as its history. Bohag Bihu, the Assamese New Year, erupts in April with music, dance, and feasting. Feel the rhythm of the dhol and the melody of the pepa as the seven-day festival honors cattle, purifies souls, and brings communities together.
Rongali Bihu, also known as Bohag Bihu, is celebrated in mid-April and marks the Assamese New Year and the beginning of the agricultural season. Imagine traditional Bihu dances, melodious Bihu songs, and community feasts. The celebrations last for several days, with people wearing traditional costumes and participating in various cultural activities.
It corresponds to the beginning of the agricultural year and the beginning of the Hindu solar calendar (the festival is observed in other states of India, but under a different name).
Music plays a central role in the Bihu festivals. Rongali Bihu is celebrated with traditional Assamese songs called Bihu geets. Traditional clothes are worn by women (sadar-Mekhela) and men (dhuti-churia).
The New Year is also celebrated with dances (Bihutolis or Mukoli Bihus). But what really stand out is the traditional Bihu dance. The dancers, accompanied by the Dholiya, musicians playing the dhol (a traditional drum), offer energetic and captivating performances.
The Bihu dance is fascinating. It celebrates the Assamese New Year and is inspired by rhythmic and joyful agricultural gestures. It tells the story of the seasons, the harvest, and renewal.
