Goru Bihu Celebrated Across Assam: Traditions and Practices

GUWAHATI: The first day of the week-long celebration of the Rongali Bihu celebration was kicked off across the state of Assam on Friday in the form of Goru Bihu. This day is celebrated mainly by the rural folks of the state who have livestock at their homes.

The first day of the seven-day-long Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu is celebrated as the Goru Bihu across the state of Assam. It is celebrated on the last day of the month of Chot before the start of Boghag. Chot is the last month on the Assamese calender and Bohag is the first. The next day is the first of Bohag and marks the beginning of the new year on the Assamese calendar.

The day is celebrated as Goru Bihu and due respects is paid to the livestock of the household, especially cattle with traditional gaiety. The cattle are taken by their owners to nearby rivers or ponds and given a proper bath in the same. They are also smeared with pastes of black lentils and fresh turmeric.

Leaves of dighalati (litsea salicifolia) and makhioti (flemingia strobilifera) are also slapped on the skin of the pets to avoid flies and infections. They are also fed a combination of a few local vegetables including bottle gourd and eggplant for their healthy growth in the future. Old tying ropes for the livestock are discarded on Goru Bihu and new strings are given to the animals.

Reports of Goru Bihu celebration came in from all corners of the state on Friday. In the Nagaon District, the members of the Kanyaka Multi-purpose Farm in Jamugurihat were seen bathing their cows on the banks of the Bharali River while following the traditions associated with Goru Bihu. Similarly in Biwanath, the members of the Lakshmi Agriculture Multipurpose Project carried out the traditions.

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