Each year, when the bright colors of spring paint the earth, India’s state of Assam prepares for one of its most eagerly anticipated and culturally vibrant festivals - Bohag Bihu (বোহাগ বিহু). Also popularly known as Rongali Bihu, this festival celebrates the Assamese New Year and the onset of the agricultural season.
Let’s explore the beauty and essence of the Bohag Bihu festival and how it unites people, traditions, and a spirit of new beginnings.
When is Bohag Bihu Festival in 2025?
Bohag Bihu will take place in 2025 from April 14 to April 20, lighting up the entire region with traditional melodies, energetic dances, affectionate family get-togethers, and a plethora of customs.
Every day of the seven-day Bohag Bihu festival is packed with unique traditions and cultural events.
Assam observes three principal Bihus, which note a varying phase of the agricultural cycle:
Bohag Bihu (or Rongali Bihu) – Mid-April – Celebrates the Assamese New Year and the start of sowing.
Kati Bihu (or Kongali Bihu) – Mid-October – A time for protecting crops
Magh Bihu (or Bhogali Bihu) – Mid-January – A harvest festival
Amongst these, Bohag Bihu is the most wide and grandly celebrated occasion.
What is Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu?
Bohag Bihu is the most colorful and the most popularly observed. It marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year and celebrates the onset of spring, marking hope, fertility, and prosperity. Bihu is mainly celebrated in the state of Assam, and some neighboring northeastern states.
The festival marks the Assamese New Year Day, and is usually celebrated in the second week of April. The significance of this festival is mainly for the agricultural sector.
The people of Assam celebrate three primary types of Bihu, namely Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu, Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu, and Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu. Each of these festivals recognizes a different agricultural cycle of the paddy crops.
7 Days of Bohag Bihu – The Complete Ritual Calendar
The Bohag Bihu festival is a 7-day celebration, and each day is celebrated with a special name and cultural practice. Let's learn about each one in detail:
1. Goru Bihu - The Cattle Worship Day
Observed on the final day of the Assamese calendar, Goru Bihu is all about honoring the livestock, which is the backbone of agriculture. On this day:
The cattle are bathed in rivers or ponds using turmeric and special local herbs.
The owners bless the cattle with recitations such as:
"Lao kha, bengena kha, bosore bosore barhi ja."
(Which translates to: "Eat gourd, eat brinjal, grow every year.")
The animals are adorned with garlands and given special foods such as pitha.
2. Manuh Bihu
Manuh Bihu, marks the first day of the Vaisakh month. This is the Assamese New Year Day and is the most significant day of the Bohag Bihu festival. The term 'Manuh' refers to "human" and represents elders and ancestors during the festival.
People take a bath using black gram (maah) and turmeric (halodhi) paste.
New attire is put on, and blessings are sought from the elders.
The household shrine (Gohain Ghor) is lit with lamps, and gifts such as the traditional Gamusa cloth (Bihuwan) are exchanged. This traditional cloth is intricately handcrafted and represents friendship, love, respect, warmth, and hospitality.
Modern clothing is often exchanged as gifts nowadays; thus, it is a combination of the old and new.
3. Gohain Bihu – Devotional Day
The third day of Rongali Bihu is the Gohain Bihu, which is dedicated to prayers and devotion.
People go to Namghars (community prayer halls) and sing traditional songs such as Bihu Naam, Kirtan Ghosa, and Naam Ghosa.
A special prayer is said for a good harvest.
Men dress in white dhoti-kurta, and women put on the traditional mekhela sador as they take part in these religious customs.
4. Kutum Bihu – Bonding with Family and Relatives
Kutum means kin, and it is a day for seeing relatives and friends.
Families gather together and enjoy a festive meal and share stories and laughter.
Owing to school and office timetables, many people observe Kutum Bihu traditions on Manuh Bihu, when Assam announces holidays.
5. Tator Bihu & Nangolor Bihu – Honoring Traditional Tools
These two lesser-known but significant days honor the tools of everyday life:
Tator Bihu is devoted to the handloom (Tatxaal) – a source of pride and identity for Assamese women.
Nangolor Bihu honors the plough (Nangol), which is crucial for agriculture.
Though these customs have declined in contemporary times, they remind us of Assam's rich agricultural and craft-based heritage.
6. Jiyori Bihu / Senehi Bihu – Celebrating Daughters and Love
This day is emotionally and romantically significant in Assamese Bihu tradition.
Jiyori Bihu is the celebration of daughters coming back to their parental houses. Presents are given to in-laws, and there is enjoyment with family get-togethers.
Senehi Bihu, also referred to as the Assamese Valentine's Day, is kept for lovers who give and receive Bihuwans and exchange tokens of love.
Though less widely celebrated today, it once wonderfully represented courtship and love.
7. Mela Bihu / Chera Bihu – The Grand Finale
This day is dedicated to community and celebration.
Folks gather in Bihu Melas (fairs) that organize Bohag Bihu dance performances, song competitions, art exhibitions and other cultural activities.
This day is organized at the community level by Bihu committees as part of the Mukoli Bihu celebration.
This tradition continues with modern Bihu Melas, which draw people from all around Assam, encourage communal harmony, and promote inclusivity.
Bihu Dance – The Heart of Celebrations
The Assamese Bohag Bihu dance is one of the most iconic aspects of the Bihu festival. Young people, wearing traditional attire, perform energetic and rhythmic dance steps that are supported by musical instruments - dhol, pepa, gogona, and baanhi.
The dance represents fertility, joy, and love, and is usually staged in open areas or community platforms known as Mukoli Bihu.
If you’ve never seen an Assamese Bohag Bihu dance, you’re missing a truly magical experience.
Traditional Foods of Bohag Bihu
No Indian festival is complete without food, and Bohag Bihu is no exception. Some of the mouth-watering traditional foods cooked during this time are:
Pitha – rice cakes with jaggery or coconut filling
Khar – a unique Assamese dish prepared from banana peel ash
Aloo Pitika – mashed boiled potatoes flavored with mustard oil and green chilies
Xaak Bhaji – leafy greens prepared in a traditional manner
Mangsho – spicy mutton curry served on occasions of feasting
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Closing Thoughts
Bohag Bihu 2025 is more than simply the start of a new year for the people of Assam; it is a celebration of heritage, agriculture, relationships, and fresh starts. Whether you're in Assam or watching from afar, this event is a great reminder to keep grounded in tradition while enjoying the pleasures of life.
So, this April, immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of Bohag Bihu, witness traditional dances, eat authentic cuisine, and feel the spirit of Assam come alive!
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