happy bohag bihu....
plz provide me a few lines about this wonderful festival of assam
Answers
Bihu is the chief festival in the Assam state of India. It refers to a set of three different festivals: Rongali or Bohag Bihu observed in April, Kongali or Kati Bihu observed in October, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu observed in January.[1] The Rongali Bihu is the most important of the three, celebrating the Assamese new year and the spring festival. The Bhogali Bihu or the Magh Bihu is the one that is all about food. The Kongali Bihu or the Kati Bihu is the sombre, thrifty one reflecting a season of short supplies and is an animistic festival.[2]
Bihu
Assamese couple in traditional attire.jpg
Bihu of Assam
Official name
Bihu
Also called
Rongali Bihu (April) • Kaati Bihu (October) • Bhogali Bihu (January)
Observed by
Assamese people
Type
Regional folk
Ends
Varies
Date
In the months of Bohag, Kaati and Maagh
Frequency
Tri-annual
The Rongali Bihu coincides (according to the Hindu calendar) with the Indian New Year festivals like Baisakhi, Bishu, etc. as well as with other regions of East and South-East Asia which follow the Buddhist calendar.[3] The other two Bihu festivals every year are unique to Assamese people. Like some other Indian festivals, Bihu is associated with agriculture, and rice in particular. Bohag Bihu is a sowing festival, Kati Bihu is associated with crop protection and worship of plants and crops and is an animistic form of the festival, while Bhogali Bihu is a harvest festival.[4][5] Assamese celebrate the Rongali Bihu with feasts, music and dancing. Some hang brass, copper or silver pots on poles in front of their house, while children wear flower garlands then greet the new year as they pass through the rural streets.[6]
The three Bihu are Assamese festivals with reverence for Krishna, cattle (Goru Bihu),[6] elders in family, fertility and mother goddess, but the celebrations and rituals reflect influences from aborigine, southeast Asia and Sino-Tibetan cultures.[7][8][9] In contemporary times, the Bihus are celebrated by all Assamese people irrespective of religion, caste or creed.[10] It is also celebrated overseas by the Assamese diaspora community living worldwide.
The term Bihu is also used to imply Bihu dance otherwise called Bihu Naas and Bihu folk songs also called Bihu Geet.
Bohag Bihu is one of the most significant and important festivals in the Bihu calendar of Assam. It celebrates the commencement of harvesting season and is also regarded as the first day of the Assamese New Year. The significance of this festival is purely agricultural in nature. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy throughout the state.
Bohag Bihu is the most important Bihu festival among the three Bihu festivals celebrated in the state. The festival is celebrated for seven days during the month of Bohag (Baishakh Month) which falls somewhere in the middle of the month of April. Bohag Bihu is also known as Rongali Bihu in many parts of the state. The name Rongali is derived from the word “Rong”, which means happiness and celebration.