INDIA TRAVEL NET

Come April, and for the numerous communities, tribes and sub-tribes inhabiting the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra it's time to welcome the onset of the agricultural season, a celebration of the vibrant springtime fertility cult.

Bihu is the most important festival of Assam. It is celebrated with joy and abundance by all Assamese people irrespective of caste, creed, religion, faith and belief. Bihu can be broadly divided into three categories: Bohag Bihu which augurs the wish for a good harvest because this is the time when farmers start sowing, Kaati Bihu which is observed to mark the cutting and binding of grains and Magh Bihu which marks the season of harvesting of grains.


Assam, the melting pot of numerous colourful tribes comes alive to the beating of the Dhol (drums) and the melody of the Pepa (flute). Young and old alike come out in their traditional attire of muga and pat (both unique varieties of Assamese silk) to sing the song of eternal youth. Invariably the Bihu songs are an eulogy of the exquisite beauty of one's love, the personification of Mother Nature.

It is one of those festivals which all the major tribes in the state celebrate, albeit with different names. While the Bodos celebrate Baisagu, the Rabhas celebrate Baikho. The Missings, Deuris and Morans on the other hand call the festival Bihu Utsav.

Tribal groups like the Mishings, the Deoris, and the Morans celebrate "Bihu" with dances of their own distinctive style. In the more recent times a fairly large scale migration of people from other parts of India like the Santhals, Gonds, Mundas etc. from Bihar, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, brought as indentured laboures for tea gardens have also carried with them their own distinct cultural heritage which has blossomed forth in exotic festivals like Tussu Puja, Sarak Puja, Karam Puja and captivating dances like the Jhumur.




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