Rongali Bihu celebrations in Assam (April 13-15)
Where: Assam
What: Rongali Bihu (cultural festival)
When: April 13 – 15
Bihu is a cultural festival celebrated by Assamese people all over the world. This festival has ancient origins, but it has evolved with the time. The urbanized and commercialized Bihu attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Assam every year. Tourists are enamored by the colorful Bihu dance known for its sensuous movements involving the arms and the hips.
Both men and women participate in a Bihu dance performance. Brisk arm movements make Bihu dance a visual delight.
Bihu has a secular aspect to it. It is celebrated by people of all religions, caste, creed and belief. Rongali Bihu celebrated in April (13-15) is the most important of the three Bihus celebrated in the year. It is also the most colorful. The two other Bihus are Kongali Bihu (October) and Bhogali Bihu (January). Bihu, like most other Indian festivals, is a harvest festival.
Rongali or Bohag Bihu is the harvest festival of Assam. It marks the onset of the New Year in the state. This occasion is celebrated in several other parts of the country as well. For example, In Kerala, people celebrate Vishu on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam (April 14/15). Vishu is the traditional New Year of Malayalis. In Tamil Nadu also this day is celebrated as the New Year.
April 14/15 is an auspicious day for Indians. It is the first day of the Indian Solar Calendar. This day marks the onset of New Year in states such as Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Orissa, Punjab, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The festival has different names in different states. It is also celebrated in entirely different ways. There is joy in the air and the general mood is upbeat. It is a time of fun and feasting. The festivities can last up to 10 days.
The major highlight of Rongali Bihu is the colorful Bihu dance performed by young boys and girls wearing traditional clothes. Rapid hand movements are the hallmark of Bihu dance. The movements of men and women are very similar. Each performance will have more than one drummer. The dance is accompanied by traditional Bihu songs. The movements are brisk and involve the hips, arms and wrists. The performers twirl, bend and squat, but they don’t jump.
In April numerous Bihu competitions are held all over Assam. These events are attended by a large number of locals and foreigners.
Pitha and laru are two delicacies prepared during Bihu. Rongali Bihu is typically celebrated over three days (April 13-15). The first day is called goru Bihu (cow Bihu). On this day, the cows are washed and worshiped. The second day is the New Year Day (usually April 14/15). It is for people. Men and women wear new clothes and welcome the New Year with great joy and enthusiasm. The third day Gosai Bihu (Gods) is meant for the worship of gods. Idols are cleaned and worshipped. Everyone prays for a happy and prosperous New Year.
If a trip to Assam is on your wish list, April is the best time to make it a reality. Fairs and festivals aren’t the only attraction of Assam. This north-east state is one of the greenest states in the country known for its tea plantations, mighty rivers and amazing wildlife. The Kaziranga National Park in Assam is famous for its population of one-horned rhinoceros and tigers.