Bihu
Bihu is the most important festival of Assam, celebrated three times a year in step with the rice-farming calendar: Bohag (Rongali) Bihu in April marks the Assamese new year and spring, Kati (Kongali) Bihu in October is a quieter ritual of prayer, and Magh (Bhogali) Bihu in January celebrates the harvest with feasts.
Quick facts: Bihu
| Region | Assam |
|---|---|
| When | April (Bohag), October (Kati), January (Magh) |
| Type | Agricultural / seasonal cycle |
| Signature dance | Bihu dance with dhol and pepa |
| Festive foods | Pitha, laru, curd and chira |
Significance of Bihu
Bihu binds Assamese identity across religion and community — it is a festival of the land and its seasons rather than a single faith. Bohag Bihu celebrates renewal and youth, Kati Bihu invokes protection for the growing crop, and Magh Bihu gives thanks for the completed harvest.
History & origins
Bihu’s roots reach back to ancient agrarian fertility rites of the Brahmaputra valley, predating written records. References to Bihu appear in inscriptions and chronicles from the Ahom era, and its songs (Bihugeet) carry centuries of oral tradition.
How Bihu is celebrated
During Bohag Bihu, young people perform the energetic Bihu dance in open fields to the beat of the dhol and the sound of the pepa (buffalo-horn pipe), wearing traditional muga silk. Elders are honoured with the gift of a gamosa (woven towel). Magh Bihu centres on community feasts around meji bonfires, with rice cakes (pitha) and sesame-jaggery snacks (laru).
Regional variations
- Bohag (Rongali) Bihu — April: the Assamese new year, week-long dance and song celebrations.
- Kati (Kongali) Bihu — October: lamps lit in paddy fields and by the tulsi plant; a modest, prayerful day.
- Magh (Bhogali) Bihu — January: harvest feasts, meji bonfires, buffalo games and pitha-making.
Frequently asked questions about Bihu
What is Bihu?
Bihu is the set of three principal festivals of Assam — Bohag, Kati and Magh Bihu — tied to stages of the rice-farming calendar. Bohag Bihu in April also marks the Assamese new year.
How many Bihu festivals are there?
Three: Bohag (Rongali) Bihu in April, Kati (Kongali) Bihu in October, and Magh (Bhogali) Bihu in January.
What is the Bihu dance?
The Bihu dance is a joyful Assamese folk dance performed during Bohag Bihu by young men and women, accompanied by the dhol drum, pepa horn and Bihugeet folk songs.
What foods are eaten during Bihu?
Traditional Bihu foods include pitha (rice cakes), laru (sesame or coconut-jaggery balls), curd with chira (flattened rice) and community harvest feasts at Magh Bihu.