Monday 21 April 2014

Bihu Festival

Bihu Festival

Bihu is one of the most important festivals of Assam and is celebrated with fun and abundance by all Assamese people. The Assamese people celebrate this festival irrespective of caste, creed, religion, faith and belief. “Bihu” word originated from the language of the Dimasa people. The supreme god of these people is Brai Shibrai or Father Shibrai and the season’s first crop is offered to Brai Shibrai. People pray for peace and prosperity while offering their first crop. Bi means "to ask" and Shu means "peace and prosperity" in the world.  Celebrations begin in the middle of BIHU FESTIVAL OF ASSAMApril and are celebrated for a month. Assamese society is predominantly agricultural and like most other Indian festivals, Bihu is associated with farming.


This major festival is celebrated in three forms; Rongali Bihu/Bohag Bihu (in April); Magh Bihu/Bhogali Bihu (in January); Kati Bihu/Kongali Bihu (in October/ November). Spring-Festival or Rongali Bihu is the most colorful festival and is celebrated in mid- April. This festival is celebrated to earmark the beginning of an agricultural season. The people of Assam enjoy these festivals with traditional dancing and singing. Bhogali Bihu or Maagh Bihu (the harvesting festival) is celebrated in mid- January by organizing a community feast and is celebrated at the end of the harvest season marked with bonfires feasting, buffalo fights, and pot breaking. During the night, traditional food is prepared and there is community feasting everywhere combined with the exchange of sweets and greetings. Kongali Bihu or Kaati Bihu or is celebrated on the completion of paddy transplanting. Cattle are fed with specially made rice items called Pitha. This occasion is a relatively solemn occasion and involves lighting of lamps to guide souls to heaven. The traditional Bihu dance and songs are performed during this festival. The Assamese people wear their traditional costumes with traditional jewelry. The Assam Tourism Department also organizes a special Rongali Utsav at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra, Guwahati which attracts lots of tourists and visitors.

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