Bihu 2023: The 7 Days Of Bihu Celebrations At Assam

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Bihu festival is an elaborately celebrated festival where every Assamese citizen is inspired to go out of his way to participate in the occasion. The Seven day celebration or Haat Bihu or Xaat Bihu, of Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu continue for 7 more days which are known as Chot Bihu, Goru Bihu, Manuh Bihu, Kutum Bihu, Senehi Bihu, Mela Bihu and Chera Bihu.

Last day of the year is demarcated for observing The goru bihu or cattle worship rituals. Out of the three occasions of Bihu, namely Bohag, Magh and Kati Bihu, the Bohag Bihu occupies the top place as it coincides with the new year for Assamese.

Raati Or Chot Bihu- Raati Bihu celebrations, as the name itself suggests, start from the first night of Chaitra month Chaitra and end when Uruku starts. Local women light torches and gather in the field on this night. Men provide background music and lend a festive ambience to the occasion by playing buffalo hornpipe.

Goru Bihu- Goru Bihu, as it reminds us of the cattle, is the second day celebration of Bihu wherein Cattle are washed using turmeric and black gram paste and then dried. They are given a festive feed instead of the normal day to day one, and thanked for their contribution to the harvest.

They make fresh ropes from plants and then bringing the cows back to the shed, tie them with the ropes they freshly made. Tangolti leaf garland is made and placed around their necks, and a fire is set up in order to keep away the flies from bothering the cows. A special food called Bor Pitha is offered to the cows as they are prepared from the cows favourite food combination, the rice and Jaggery.

Manuah Bihu- Manuah Bihu is to be understood as Manav Bihu. On this day, that is the third day of Bihu, people clean their homes and apply turmeric while bathing. Traditinal clothes, visits to relatives, and elders blessings are the characteristic mark of the day. Gifts exchange amongst relatives and friends gladden the heart which that is indicative of their respect towards the elders. Some families write Sanskrit slokas on leaves and hide them behind the roof so that it ensures Lord Shiva's protection from all natural catastrophes. This is symbolically significant, In lower Assam, Manuh Bihu is referred to Bor Domahi.

Goasain Bihu- Gosain Bihu is an occasion to worship Gods and to sing devotional prayers in Namghars asking for protection and luck for a good harvest.

Kutum Bihu- this is when people visit the family or Kutumb of relatives and share some boisterous vibes over a meal and also to narrate new stories.

Senehi Bihu- Senehi Bihu is the day demarcated for lovers as this day is indicative of reproduction and love. The day allows lovers to meet and exchange gifts called Bihuwan with each other.

Mela or Sera Bihu- Last day is the Mela Bihu, King used to participate in a fair conducted by his subjects. Even today melas are organized in different parts of the states where hordes of people attend the gathering.

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