Bihu is a harvest festival celebrated mainly in Assam and a few other Northeastern states three times a year. The festival celebrated in January that coincides with Makar Sankranti is called the Bhogali Bihu. The other two Assamese Bihu are Kongali Bihu, celebrated in Karthik month, and Rongali Bihu, celebrated during Vishuva Sankranti. The word ‘Bihu’ is derived from ‘Bishu’ in Sanskrit, which means “to ask the Gods for prosperity during the season of harvests.”

The Bohag Bihu will be celebrated from 14th April 2025 till 20th April 2024.

About Bohag Bihu

Also called the Rongali Bihu, the Bohag Bihu is the most popular Bihu that celebrates the arrival of spring and the onset of the Assamese New Year. This day is the first day of the Hindu Solar Calendar. Different names are known in Punjab, Manipur, Bengal, Nepal, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Haryana. It is the time of feasts and merriment and continues for about a week.

Farmers prepare the fields for paddy cultivation, and the atmosphere around them is ecstatic and joyful. The first day of the Assamese Bihu is called cow Bihu or Goru Bihu. On this day, the cows are cleaned and worshipped. This happens on the last day of the year. This day is followed by Manuh Bihu, New Year’s Day. Everybody cleans their houses and wears new clothes to celebrate and joyfully welcome the New Year. Gosai Bihu is the third day when gods are worshipped and homes are cleaned, hoping for a new, prosperous year.

Many folk songs are associated with the first Assamese Bihu festival, the Bihugeets (Bihu songs). However, this form of celebration might vary based on the various demographic groups. This is also known as a fertility festival.

The Seven Days

During the Rongali Bihu festival, the seven days of celebration are called the Xaat Bihu. The seven days of the festival are:

Raati Bihu

The Raati Bihu lasts till Uruka and begins on the first night of Chot (month). This phase usually happens in an open field or beneath an old, ancient tree decorated by burning torches. This is mainly celebrated in the Chowdang villages and is regarded as a get-together for the women in the village.

Chot Bihu

Also known as the Bali Husori, the Chot Bihu starts on the second day of the Chot Mah. People celebrate this day by singing traditional Bihu songs and dancing in an organized outdoor location, prayer halls, or fields.

Goru Bihu

Goru Bihu is related to the reverence of livestock and the agricultural roots of Assam. The first of Rongali Bihu is dedicated to caring for and maintaining livestock. The cattle are washed with herbs in a water source or river and worshipped. This Assamese Bihu also includes games, songs, and dances, and the day ends with creating smoke by burning rice bran.

Manuh Bihu

This day is the first day of the month, Vaishak, and people celebrate by putting on new clothes and praying. The traditions include getting blessings from the family’s elders and presenting them with traditional clothes (Gasuma) as a gift that could be worn to symbolize the pride of the culture. The Gasuma is a significant part of the culture of Assam.

Kutum Bihu

The Kutum Bihu is the second day of the month, Vaishak. People visit their relatives, families, and friends on this day and have dinner or lunch together, sharing their stories and experiences.

Mela Bihu

Cultural events and many outdoor competitions mark this third day. In addition, fairs are conducted, which many people attend, filling the atmosphere with a beautiful and peaceful brotherhood.

Chera Bihu

Also called the Phato Bihu, this is the last day of the Rongali Bihu, and people celebrate it differently in different regions of Assam. However, the common theme is to wrap up all the celebrations and figure out future resolutions.

Bihu and Food

The Bohag Bihu involves specific food items like green leafy vegetables to celebrate the abundance of crops and the successful harvest. Other essential food items include jaggery, coconut, sesame, rice, milk, and various milk products. Some communities would also brew rice beer and cook multiple varieties of meat. Mass fests might also be organized in different areas where people gather with friends and family.

Take part in this culturally significant and sacred festival of Assam this year! With redBus, you will have no trouble finding your way to the heart of the festivals in Assam safely and securely. Learn more about the festival’s beauty, significance, and spiritual value by reaching there in time! So book your tickets hassle-free and begin celebrating Assamese Bihu with redBus!