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India Gate Thar Desert Omkareshwar Shopping in Delhi Kanyakumari
The Lively Celebration
“Bihu anondia, Bihu binondia
Bihur mou mitha hat
Bihur ba lagi bihua kokair e
Deu dhoni laguse gat.”
This literally means
(Bihu is full of joy, Bihu is beautiful,
Bihu songs are very sweet, when the winds of Bihu flow
The dancing spirit possesses one’s body).
The breathtaking hills and valleys of Assam come alive with the sound of Bihu
thrice a year. A festival that marks the change of season, Bihu is accompanied
both by prayer and great rejoicing. One of the seven northeastern states of
India (which are also known as the Seven Sisters), Assam is renowned for its
picturesque landscape, exotic fauna and fun-loving people.
Origin of Festival
Originating in the pre-Aryan days around 3500 BC , the festival of Bihu used to
last for a whole month, though nowadays work pressure and the humdrum of daily
life has reduced celebrations to just a week. A no holds barred dancing session
is the most intriguing part of the festival and symbolises the fertility rites
of the original inhabitants of the hilly regions of the northeast in India. The
farmers fancied that the erotic content of the songs would sexually arouse the
earth’s body, leading to an abundant harvest. Bihag Bihu or Rangoli Bihu, the
first of the three Bihus, is celebrated in the month of April on the dates
coinciding with the sankranti, chait or baisakh (13, 14 and 15 April).
Festival Celebration during the Assamese New Year
According to the solar calendar that the Assamese follow, the New Year usually
falls on 14th April. Brilliantly-coloured flowers and luxuriant
foliage dress the whole of Assam in all the hues of the rainbow during the month
of April. An abundance of kopoful (orchids), mostly purple in color, in unusual
shapes and sizes dot the trees, and the bhebel creepers are in full bloom
creating an enchanting kaleidoscope of colors. No one can fault the Assamese his
choice of seasons for the Bihu festivals. The vivid attire of youth and the
colorful accessories like kopoful adorning the locks (hair) of the young lasses
blend with the hues of nature, spreading joy and good cheer. The day is marked
with dancing, though restricted exclusively to men, who participate with
unbridled enthusiasm and energy. But the winds of change have blown through this
remote state also. Surrendering to contemporary trends, youngsters gather in the
town centre and learn the steps from an old hand much in demand on this day.
Gomacha Weaving for Dance
Assamese women are experts at weaving the Gomacha, a towel with intricately
woven designs, ceremonially presented as any bihu (bihu presents) to the men of
the family. A young girl too may gift these beautiful souvenirs to her beau as a
token of love. Young lads love to flaunt their prizes by tying them around their
waist or as headbands while dancing. But things start warming up as the Bihu
Dals approach. Bihu Dals are wandering minstrels who come visiting through the
week, dancing and singing devotional songs (hosari) in praise of Lord Krishna
(the black god of the Hindus), invoking his blessings for health, wealth and
happiness. They sing to the accompaniment of an eclectic collection of musical
instruments like the dhol (drum), pepa (made of buffalo horn), gogona (made from
bamboo and held between the teeth) and small cymbals. Bihu dals along with other
groups gather in open grounds called bihu tolis where dancing competitions and
beauty pageants are held, and the winners get to see their names in print in the
local newspapers.
Garur Bihu
The first day or Garur bihu also called uraka. This falls on the day of
Sankranti and is devoted to the cow that is considered to be a sacred animal in
India. The rationale behind the worshipping of cows is very simple. They are the
greatest assets of a farmer because not only do they produce milk but also help
plough fields, transport men, crop and so on. A lot of tender, loving care is
showered on cows on this day, starting with bathing them in the pond. The horns
and hooves are brushed with whisks made from deegloti or makheatr (lilsoca
salocrfolea). A mixture of twigs, turmeric and moong dal (pulses) acts as a
disinfectant, and is applied as a paste. A hearty meal of gourd and brinjal is
fed to the cows after which their foreheads are marked with vermilion. As the
night falls, the tired but satiated cows are led back to their sheds and
thoroughly cleansed. Only then does the household sit down for a sumptuous meal
of assorted preparations of chirwa (flat rice) and array of sweets.
The following day is welcomed as manuhor bihu or the bihu of human beings. The
Assamese celebrate their New Year on this day. A lavish feast called ‘bihu kabo
loi’ is laid out for the day and married daughters along with other relatives
are invited to partake of the meal. On this day, pitha a delicacy made from rice
and coconut, laddoo (made from shredded coconut) and til laddoo (made from
sesame seed) are prepared and served. Ofcourse, no festival in India is complete
without buying new clothes and this festival is no exception. Everyone receives
Gomachas as presents from the ladies of the house. Women look very graceful in
their new mekhele chadar, woven with the golden-coloured muga silk that is
indigenous to Assam. The chic look is completed with the accessories like
gumkham bracelets made from an alloy of silver and gold nuggets found in the
rivers.
Gabhori Bihu
Gabhori bihu falls on the third day of the festival and is earmarked as the day
for young ladies. The fair maidens of Assam look gorgeous in their muga silk
wear and ornate gumkham bracelets. The orchids adorning the hair of the ladies
add a whimsical touch to the formality of the outfit. Swaying to the beat of the
toka (drum) and gogona (made from bamboo held between the teeth), the women
dance the night away under the gentle breeze of banyan trees. Couplets are
created spontaneously. Starting with a slow tempo, the rhythm rapidly picking up
pace. Once the merrymaking is over, it is customary to present fermented betel
leaves over a gomacha to the dancers. On the final day, the festivities end on a
religious note wherein families inscribe a mantra (religious hymn of the Hindus)
on the leaves of nahar pat (Indian ironwood tree). Through this mantra, Lord
Shiva (the Destroyer in the Holy Hindu Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer)
is invoked to protect everyone against disease, storms and rain, and to bring
peace and prosperity in the forthcoming year.
Kati Bihu
The second bihu named Kati bihu or kangali bihu is held in the month of Kartik
(September or October). But there is a world of difference in the celebration of
this bihu from the former.
Slowly but surely, winter is approaching, heralding the season for sowing seeds.
This is a solemn occasion as people worship the deities for a rich harvest. The
young learn to value hard work so that they do not squander money away.
Predictably enough, this bihu is dedicated to the worship of none other than
Goddess Lakshmi who is the dispenser of wealth to mortals. As night falls, lamps
are lit in the paddy fields where farmers have toiled through the day. At the
end of a hard day’s work, all the members of a family pray to the benign Goddess
for the well-being of their crop and cattle.
Sacred to the Hindus, the tulsi (basil) tree is planted or pruned in the
courtyard of each household. Water is poured over the plant with great reverence
after puja is performed every day.
The medicinal properties of tulsi are well known the world over; the age-old
recipe of tulsi leaves mixed with a few grains of black pepper and misri (sugar
in the form of crystals) is a surefire way to stay in good health.
¤ Magh Bihu
The Magh bihu that generally falls on 14th January on the sankranti
of the month, is the third bihu that calls for a grand celebration in Assamese
homes. This is again a joyous occasion as the granaries are stocked with the
recently harvested crop. Seven days of non-stop fun and frolic mark this
festival. But the best thing about this bihu is the elaborate and sumptuous
cuisine that is prepared. This grand feast known as bhog is held on the night of
the first day of the festival that is also called uruka.
¤ Khel Dhemali-(Fun Games)
If you are an outdoor person who enjoys sports of all kinds, Assam is the place
to be in at this time of the year. Everyone indulges in khel dhemali (fun and
games). Each village holds its share of fights between various creatures, big
and small including cockfights and buffalo fights, for the entertainment of the
locals. An inexpensive way to have fun, though the poor animals might and animal
rights forums would beg to differ. The chilly winters offer the best excuse to
light bonfires in the great outdoors and dance around them with gay abandon.
All this is reminiscent of the festivals of Lohri in Punjab, Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Goopi in Andhra Pradesh, which is not surprising as sankranti is a time for festivals all over India.
As there are three tribes in the Meghalaya, the festivals of this region are broadly classified into the festivals of their respective regions. There are many festivals of each tribe but the following are the one of the most important festivals of the community.
