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Rongali Bihu (Bohag Bihu)

  • Timing: Celebrated in April, it marks the onset of the Assamese New Year and the arrival of spring.
  • Significance: This festival is associated with sowing and new beginnings, celebrating fertility and abundance.
  • Celebrations: Festivities include music, dance, feasting, and various traditional rituals. The use of flower garlands and the hanging of pots symbolize welcoming the new year.

 

Rongali Bihu, also known as Bohag Bihu, is a significant cultural festival celebrated in Assam, marking the Assamese New Year and the arrival of spring. The festival spans seven days, each with its own customs and traditions, collectively referred to as Haat Bihu. Here’s a detailed look at the seven days and their significance:

Seven Days of Rongali Bihu (Haat Bihu)

  1. Goru Bihu (Cattle Worship)
    • Timing: The last day of the old year, prior to the Assamese New Year.
    • Significance: This day is dedicated to the worship of cattle, which are crucial for agricultural activities.
    • Customs:
      • Cattle are bathed and smeared with turmeric and other pastes for purification.
      • Farmers wish for the health and productivity of their animals through traditional chants.
      • Old ropes are removed, and new ones are tied, symbolizing renewal.
      • The cattle are allowed to roam freely, celebrating their importance in agricultural life.
  2. Manuh Bihu (Human Bihu)
    • Timing: The day after Goru Bihu, marking the New Year.
    • Significance: This day is dedicated to honoring elders and seeking their blessings.
    • Customs:
      • Elders are presented with gifts, such as bihuwan (a traditional scarf) and gamosa (a ceremonial cloth).
      • Children receive new clothes, symbolizing new beginnings.
      • The day is marked by Husori, where groups visit homes singing traditional songs and receiving blessings and offerings in return.
  3. Kutum Bihu
    • Significance: This day is dedicated to family gatherings and celebrating community ties.
    • Customs:
      • Families and friends visit each other, exchanging greetings and blessings.
      • Feasting on traditional foods occurs, reinforcing communal bonds.
  4. Senehi Bihu
    • Significance: A day to honor friendships and loved ones.
    • Customs:
      • People visit friends and relatives, sharing meals and engaging in joyous celebrations.
      • It focuses on strengthening social bonds and enjoying each other’s company.
  5. Mela Bihu
    • Significance: A day for community celebrations and fairs.
    • Customs:
      • Local fairs (melas) are held where people can enjoy various cultural activities, games, and traditional foods.
      • This day fosters a spirit of unity and enjoyment within the community.
  6. Cherra Bihu
    • Significance: The concluding day of the festivities.
    • Customs:
      • Families come together to reflect on the celebrations, often engaging in final feasting and socializing.
      • The emphasis is on gratitude for the harvest and a hopeful outlook for the coming year.

Additional Aspects of Rongali Bihu

  • Husori:
    • This is a traditional form of caroling where groups of men move from house to house, singing songs that celebrate the season and community. They often receive offerings as thanks for their performance.
  • Faat Bihu:
    • A spontaneous and older form of Bihu celebrated particularly in the Lakhimpur area, emphasizing natural expressions of joy and community.
  • Mukoli Bihu:
    • Involves young men and women dancing in the fields, wearing traditional attire, and singing songs that explore themes of love, beauty, and life.
  • Jeng Bihu:
    • A Bihu dance performed exclusively by women, traditionally surrounded by a circle of sticks, symbolizing protection and community.
  • Bihutoli Bihu:
    • A modern urban adaptation of Bihu performances, where traditional dances and songs are presented on stage, often including other forms of entertainment.
  • Saat Bihu:
    • Referring to the seven different aspects of the Bihu celebrations, highlighting the diversity of customs and practices associated with the festival.

Conclusion

Rongali Bihu is a vibrant and multifaceted festival that reflects the rich cultural heritage of Assam. The seven days of Haat Bihu are filled with rituals, music, dance, and communal gatherings, emphasizing gratitude, renewal, and the importance of family and community bonds. Each day carries its unique significance, contributing to the overall spirit of joy and celebration that characterizes this beautiful festival.

Kongali Bihu (Kati Bihu)

Kongali Bihu, also known as Kati Bihu, is a significant yet solemn festival celebrated in Assam, marking a critical phase in the agricultural calendar. Here’s a detailed overview of Kongali Bihu, its customs, significance, and unique practices associated with the festival.

Overview of Kongali Bihu (Kati Bihu)

  • Timing: Kongali Bihu is typically celebrated around October 19, coinciding with mid-October. It is observed during a time when the rice crops are growing, but the granaries are often empty, reflecting a sense of scarcity.
  • Atmosphere: Unlike the joyous celebrations of Rongali Bihu, Kongali Bihu has a more serious and reflective tone. The festivities emphasize prayer, protection, and the reverence of nature, recognizing the vulnerabilities of the agricultural cycle.

Significance

  1. Agricultural Context:
    • Kongali Bihu occurs at a crucial time when the paddy is maturing in the fields, and farmers are anxious about protecting their crops from pests and bad weather.
    • The festival serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of gratitude for the harvest, which has not yet been realized.
  2. Spiritual Practices:
    • The rituals performed during Kongali Bihu are centered around invoking divine protection and blessings for a bountiful harvest.
    • It reflects a blend of animistic traditions with a deep respect for nature, showcasing the agricultural community’s dependence on the land.

Customs and Practices

  1. Lighting Earthen Lamps (Saki):
    • Placement: Earthen lamps are lit at various places around the household, including:
      • The Tulsi plant (considered sacred)
      • The granary
      • The garden (bari)
      • The paddy fields
    • Purpose: Traditionally, these lamps were used to attract insects, serving as a natural insecticide. Today, they symbolize the light of hope and protection for the crops.
  2. Bamboo Whirling and Chants:
    • Farmers whirl pieces of bamboo while reciting rowa-khowa chants and spells, which are believed to ward off pests and the evil eye, ensuring the safety of the growing paddy.
  3. Feeding Cattle:
    • In the evening, special rice items known as pitha are prepared and offered to cattle, signifying appreciation for their role in agricultural life.
  4. Cultural Variations:
    • Bodo and Dimasa Communities:
      • Among the Bodo people, Kati Bihu is known as Kati Gasa, and they light lamps at the foot of the siju (Euphorbia neriifolia) tree.
      • The Dimasa people refer to it as Gathi Sainjora.
    • Lighting Akaxi Gonga:
      • The practice of lighting lamps at the tip of tall bamboo poles, known as akaxi gonga or akaxbonti, is a way to guide the souls of the deceased to heaven. This custom is prevalent across various cultures in India and other parts of Asia and Europe.
  5. Community and Family Gatherings:
    • Though not as vibrant as Rongali Bihu, Kongali Bihu includes family gatherings where people pray together for the well-being of their crops and the family.

Conclusion

Kongali Bihu is a poignant reminder of the agricultural community’s relationship with nature and the cycles of life. It emphasizes themes of protection, reverence, and hope amid the challenges of farming. The festival encapsulates the essence of Assamese culture, showcasing a blend of spirituality and agricultural practice while fostering a sense of community in times of uncertainty.

Bhogali Bihu (Magh Bihu)

  • Timing: Held in January, this festival celebrates the harvest.
  • Significance: Known for its communal feasts, it marks the end of the harvesting season and is a time for thanksgiving.
  • Celebrations: The festival includes bonfires, traditional food preparations, and various cultural activities, fostering community bonding.

Meji Ceremony

Significance:

  • The Meji ceremony symbolizes gratitude towards ancestral gods and nature for a bountiful harvest. It is a time to seek blessings for future crops and to celebrate the hard work of the community in agriculture.
  • The name “Meji” is derived from the Deori-Chutia term “Midi-ye-ji,” which signifies a connection to ancestral spirits, emphasizing the spiritual aspect of the ritual.

Rituals and Practices:

  1. Preparation of the Bonfire:
    • Materials Used: The bonfire is constructed from various materials, including:
      • Firewood
      • Green bamboo
      • Hay
      • Dried banana leaves
    • These materials are gathered to create a large, communal bonfire, symbolizing warmth, light, and the spirit of togetherness.
  1. Early Dawn Rituals:
    • The festivities begin at dawn, with people bathing and preparing for the ceremony. This act of purification signifies respect for the ancestral gods and the significance of the rituals being performed.
  1. Firing the Meji (Meji Jwaluwa):
    • Lighting the Bonfire: Once the bonfire is set up, it is lit in a joyful atmosphere, often accompanied by songs and communal celebrations. This ritual, known as Meji Jwaluwa, is marked by happiness and togetherness among family and friends.
    • Offering Prayers: People gather around the fire to pray to their ancestral gods for blessings, protection, and prosperity in the coming year.
  1. Food Offerings:
    • A variety of traditional dishes and offerings are made during the ceremony, including:
      • Chicken, Rice Cakes, and Rice Beers: These are offered to the deities as a sign of respect and gratitude.
      • Pitha: Traditional rice cakes that are often made during this time.
      • Akhoi, Horoom, Curd: These are other customary items included in the offerings.
    • Bhelaghar: This is another significant structure made from bamboo, which is also burned at the end of the festivities. It represents abundance and is a part of the celebratory atmosphere.
  1. Post-Ceremony Customs:
    • After the Meji and Bhelaghar are burned, the ashes are collected and used in the fields and gardens. This practice is believed to enhance soil fertility, ensuring a good yield for the upcoming agricultural season.
    • Traditional Meals: The day is filled with feasting, where families enjoy traditional Assamese dishes such as:
      • Fish, duck, chicken, and mutton curries
      • Rice with tenga (a sour fish curry), aloo pitika (mashed potatoes), and doi sira (curd with rice).

  The Meji ceremony during Bhogali Bihu encapsulates the spirit of gratitude, community, and celebration inherent in Assamese culture. It reflects the deep-rooted agricultural practices and the importance of respecting nature and ancestral traditions. Through joyful gatherings, rituals, and the sharing of food, the Meji ceremony fosters unity and hope for a prosperous future.

Praagya Dhara (2024 Issue)

Preface
Chapter1
Chapter2
Chapter3
Chapter4
Chapter5
Chapter6
Chapter7
Chapter8
Chapter9
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