Monday, 15 April 2019

Lunisolar New Year /Bihu




Bihu , Assamese New Year, is the chief festival of Assam.  It is a set of three different festivals, Rongali or Bohag observed in the Gregorian month of April, Kongali or Kati Bihu observed in October, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu observed in December, of which Rongali Bihu is considered to be the most important one celebrating the new year and spring.  Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu is all about food while Kongali Bihu or Kati Bihu reflects a season of short supplies (Kongali meaning poverty).

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By Rex86 
Montage of Asamiya Cultural Symbols: Jaapi, Bihu dance, Saraai (Xorai), Bihu Dhol, Gamosa.


The word Bihu is originally derived from the Sanskrit word ‘bishu’, which means to ask for prosperity from the Gods during important junctures of the harvest season. It is commonly believed that the festival received its name from two different words – “bi” which means to ask, and “hu” which means to give.


Youth perform the Bihu dance on the occasion of Rongali Bihu festival

Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu is a month-long festival with seven phases and hence is called Xaat (seven) Bihu.  It  starts with Raati Bihu performed on the first night of Chot and marks the beginning of a month-long season of festivities and nightly performances in open fields illuminated by burning torches, meant to be a gathering for local women.  The presence of men is only ceremonial wherein they played the pepa, a buffalo hornpipe, or bholuka baanhor toka which is a split bamboo musical instrument.




Bathing and worshipping cows (Goru bihu) is a part of the Bihu celebrations.

The last day of Chot month is celebrated as Goru (Cow) Bihu with ritual bathing of livestock using a paste of symbolic herbs like black gram and turmeric paste, whipped dighloti  (litsea salicifolia), makhioti (flemingia strobilifera), tonglati (a plant with flower like soft plastic butter-fly) and pieces of bottle gourd and brinjal.  After the bath, the livestock are decorated with new harnesses and garlands.  People sing the following passage: "Dighloti dighal paat, maakhi marru jaat jaat; lau khaa bengena khaa, bosore bosore bardhi jaa, maare xaru baapere xoru toi hobi bor bor goru" . This is roughly translated as : "With our herbs and the leaves of dighloti, we drive away the flies which disturb you; we hope you accept our offering of brinjals and gourds, and continue to grow every year; and may you outgrow your parents". After washing the cattle, the remaining branches of dighloti-makhioti are hung on the roof of the cattle ranch signifying their participation.

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By Woodlouse from Brighton, UK 

Girls celebrating the spring Bihu (April) festival.


The first day of Visakh month (the day after Goru Bihu) is celebrated as Manuh (human) Bihu.  On this day, humans bathe with a paste of similar items that were used to bathe cattle on Goru Bihu, wear new clothes, seek blessings of elders and exchange gifts such as Gamusa.  A Gamusa is an indispensable part of Assamese life and culture with its distinctive symbolic significance. The intricacy of its handcrafting symbolically represents ideas of friendship, love, regards, warmth, hospitality that are intimately woven into the social fabric of Assam.


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The key musical instruments - Dhol, Pepa and Taal used during Bihu song / dance.

The next day is celebrated as Gosai (God's) Bihu.  On this day, people clean up theirs homes and worship God for a fruitful and prosperous year ahead.  This is followed by kutum (family) Bihu. This is the time to visit friends and kinsfolk and exchange news and stories over meals.  Then comes the Mela (fair) Bihu.  The highlight of Mela Bihus is organisation of cultural events and competitions at outdoor locales.  In the ancient days, the King and his staff used to come out to such fairs or bihutolis to mingle in the Bihu celebrations. This tradition of events is continued till date with Bihu Melas or Bihu functions. The fairs are attended by people from all over Assam and are aimed at fostering an atmosphere of communal brotherhood and the inclusion of everyone.

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Manda Pitha

The final day is the Chera Bihu, also called Bohagi Bidai, Phato Bihu. In different regions of Assam, people celebrate it differently but the common theme is wrapping up the celebrations with contemplation and future resolutions. It is marked by the exchange of Pithas (rice cakes) made by different families during the Bihu week among their friends and relatives.

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