The major festival of Assam Bohag Bihu is here and people across the state are set to celebrate the festival with full enjoyment.
The Bohag Bihu this year will be celebrated on Thursday 14 April, Friday 15 April and Saturday 16 April.
According to the Hindu solar calendar, the occasion of Bohag Bihu marks the 1st day of Assamese New Year by marking the beginning of the harvest season.
Bohag Bihu which is a traditional ethnic festival is also known by other names like Rongali Bihu and Xaat Bihu. It is mainly observed by the Assamese people in the northeastern state of Assam.
During this festival, the farmers offer prayers to God by performing important rituals and thanked God for a good harvest over the past year.
The same festival is celebrated in other Indian states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, Manipur, Nepal and Bengal with different names like Poila Baisakh, Jur Sital, Baisakhi, Vishu and Puthandu but the traditions and rituals differ.
The festival of Bohag Bihu holds great significance in the life of every Assamese as it marks the Assamese New Year as well as the beginning of the spring season.
It mainly signifies the harvesting season as people with full enthusiasm pray for the well-being of their upcoming crop plantation and also thanked God for the previous harvest that supported their lifestyle.
During the 3-day long Bohag Bihu, the Assamese people get engaged in various types of rituals that are crucial to the success of the occasion.
On the first day of the festival, people wake up early in the morning and apply the mixture of urad daal and turmeric which is believed to keep away the negativity by bringing purity.
After a ritualistic bath everyone wears new clothes then they visit their friends and families and enjoy tasty traditional food items like Chira pitha.
The traditional Bihu dance is an important part of the festival as both male and female dancers are seen dancing Bihu wearing the traditional attires.
Bihu events are organized in the locality of different cities where people actively participate in various activities of dancing, singing and other fun activities.
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