introduction

Tucked away in the far eastern corner of the country and safely guarded by the mighty Brahmaputra River, Assam is one of the most beautiful, serene and magnificent states of India. Bihu is the official state festival of Assam, which is celebrated thrice in a year. Bihu in Assam marks the three distinct phases of the farming calendar.

Bihu is a secular festival that is celebrated by people from all parts of Assam irrespective of caste creed or religious background. The first Bihu is known as the Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu, which is celebrated in the month of April.

The second Bihu is known as Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu, which is celebrated during the month of October and finally there is Magh Bihu, which is observed during the month of January.

Bihu is a traditional festival where people cook traditional meals using rice and wear traditional clothes. Dance and music forms an important part of the celebration and the festivities continues for seven days at a stretch. The entire festival is extremely secular in nature and is deeply connected with agriculture.
The three Bihu are Hindu festivals with reverence for Krishna, cattle (Goru Bihu), elders in family, fertility and mother goddess, but the celebrations and rituals reflect influences from aborigine, southeast Asia and Sino-Tibetan cultures. In contemporary times, the Bihus are celebrated by all Assamese people irrespective of religion, caste or creed. It is also celebrated overseas by the Assamese diaspora community living worldwide.