Welcome, spring!

Usher in the Assamese New Year, Bihu, with folk songs, dance and cheer.

Blow that horn: Bihu dancer playing the pepa, a traditional horn. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year? But it’s April, and Fools Day was a week ago. Quit teasing us, you might say. But turns out, April 13 is New Year as per the regional and traditional calendars of Assam.

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Puthandu for Tamils,

Vishu for Malayalis and

Nobo Borsho for Bengalis during the month of April,

Bihu is celebrated by the people of Assam with much fervour and fanfare. There are three different

Bihu festivals marked in a year —

Bohag or

Rongali Bihu in April,

Kaati or

Kongali Bihu in October and

Magh or

Bhogali Bihu in January.

Rongali Bihu , the most popular of the three, marks the arrival of Spring and the start of the agricultural seeding time.

From the elaborate and colourful attire and cultural performances to the lively ceremonies and remarkably interesting rituals,

Bihu festivities are, you would find, unique and exotic. Young women and men sing folk songs called Bihugeet and dancers showcase their performances specific to Bihu celebration. When the dance is performed in the open, it is called Mukuli Bihu . Women wear vivid costumes, adorning the kopou phool on their hair, and charmingly dance to the dhol and pepa , a traditional pipe made from buffalo horn. The kopou phool is the state flower of Assam and marks the Bihu festive season.

The festivities are on for seven days. It has survived as people, irrespective of their religion, caste and status, come together to welcome Spring.