Bihu

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Shivam DurejaDhruv Aggarwal

Nitish GoelLakshay Negi

Shubham DurejaSimon Jacob

Prateek Goyal

Bihu is the harvest festival of Assam .The most important

festivals of Assam is the Bihu, celebrated with fun and

abundance by all Assamese people irrespective of caste,

creed, religion, faith and belief..

Bihu marks the change of season. It is celebrated thrice a year (Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu in April, Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu in January and Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu in October/ November) and its origin is believed to be from the Sanskrit word ‘Vishu’. Loads of prayers and other merriment provide a great opportunity to the natives of the state to rejoice as much as they can and thus augments the lushness of its whole landscape. Bihu is a festival that personifies a huge celebration of farming, particularly paddy. Rongali Bihu, which is dedicated to the commencing of sowing of seeds, the Kati Bihu marks the fulfillment of sowing and transplantation of the saplings and lastly Magh Bihu is the arrival of the harvest period.

Out of these three Bihu’s, the most pivotal one is Bohag Bihu that marks the first day of Hindu solar calendar. It is a predominantly harvesting festival of farming community, Where on the first day on 14th April, Goru Bihu or Cow Bihu, cow is bathed and worshipped. Then on the second day on 15th April, the New Year day for Assamese, manuh bihu or human bihu, they get up, clean up themselves, wear new clothes and celebrate the day with their loved ones..

Exchange of gifts like bihuwan, a hachoti, a cheleng, etc. also take place between elders and young members of the family and solicit for their blessings. However, on the third day, which is Gosai Bihu or Gods bihu on 16th April, the idols of God are worshiped with huge love and adoration in all houses of Assam and hence no dearth of happiness and zeal can be observed throughout the entire celebrations

Bihu, the National festival of Assam, India admirably overpasses all religious and class barriers by bringing localities on one single platform and creates a longing in their heart to take endless pleasures from it. Its a big day for Assamese as they surprisingly observe three Bihu’s in a year. Consequently, the festivity around lets the entrancing hills and vales of Assam come alive and look more charming and exotic from tourist’s point of view.

Instruments used in BihuDhol (Drum)

TaalPepa Toka

Baanhi(Flute)Xutuli

Gogona

Bihu is also seen to be celebrated abroad. Many Bihu associations / committees exist elsewhere where this festival is celebrated with enthusiasm. The London Bihu Committee (LBC), UK is one of them amongst others.

Bihu

Thank you