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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