Tuesday 29 September 2015

Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu
Celebration Of Magh Bihu 
In the Magh Bihu, there is again much revelry and merry – making happens in the middle of January.  The word Bhogali Bihu is derived from the word Bhog or handiness of rich food. Bhogali Bihu represents a festival of food. Bhogali Bihu is celebrated at the time when all the cultivation works get over and everyone has got the time to celebrate and enjoy.

Meji
Harvesting over, the festival begins on the last date of Pousa. A meji is put by each group in a village: that is the high temple like structure of firewood piled up and help together by bamboo poles from the four corners. To stay for the night also known as Uruka Night, people build temporary houses called as Bhela Ghar which are made of hay. All night long the festivity goes on with singing, dancing and merry making. In the morning, on the first day of the Magh, after taking the ceremonious bath, the meji is lit by an old member of the society or village to the chanting of mantras and prayers. The fire over, the people go back to their field with pieces of burnt wood as auspicious tokens. It is believed that the fire of meji burns the winter out.

Cock Fight
The Magh festival is like the Lai Haroba provides immense scoop bull-fights, javelin throws and swords, egg- fight, cock-fight,
Buffalo Fight 
Nightingale-fight and other games and sports. 

The dances had got more similar with Bahag Bihu but these are more vigorous in character. The ladies of the 
Nightingale Fight
society prepares for this Bihu for 
many days. They cook various snacks, sweets for this day. Jolpan and pitha are served to everyone. Magh Bihu is one showing the respect to the elder one with Gamosa and also greeting exchanged among friends and relatives.

All the three bihus are an occasion where all differences are forgotten and people unite to celebrate the occasion in a good manner.

Sweets



References;
http://onlinesivasagar.com/lifestyle/magh-bihu.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihu
Traditions Of Indian Folk Dance - Kapila Vatsyayan.

Sunday 27 September 2015

Kati or Kankali or Kongal Bihu


Kati Bihu
Kati Bihu is also known as the Kankali Bihu by some, is an austere affair compared to the colorful Bahag Bihu. It happens in the middle of October. Kati Bihu is celebrated on the first day of ‘Kati’ month in Assamese calendar. The word Kati is also called ‘Kongal’ which means “poor” because there is not much to eat at this time of the year.
Paddy Field

Paddy seedlings begin to grow at the time of the year and are transplanted. Offerings are made to the Tulsi plant and clay lamps called saaki are lit and prayers are offered for a good crop. The Tulsi plant not only carries medical values, but also it supports to a very auspicious in Hinduism.
Tulsi Plant
During the evening the cattle are fed specially made rice items called pitha. In the ceremonies connected with this Bihu, we noticed how the purely agricultural rituals have been superimposed by a series of other cults and practices. The villages of Goalpara district give this Bihu greater significance than others. 

Akabonti Lamp
The Bihu is also associated with the lighting of akabonti lamps at the tip of a tall bamboo poles to show the respect towards their ancestors. Scientifically these lamps used to attract insects of the paddy fields and they fall prey into the fire of these lamps. This helps the crops to be healthy and free from insects.
Offering Prayers To Ancestors
 ‘ Tulokhir tole tole!!
Mrigo pohu sore sore!!
Oi ram kar gore loi harinam!!’






References;
http://onlinesivasagar.com/lifestyle/kati-bihu.html
http://www.assaminfo.com/festivals/11/kati-bihu-or-kongali-bihu.htm#

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Types Of Bihu

The Bihus had been celebrated in Assam since the ancient times. Each Bihu meets with a special phase in the farming calendar. The most important and colorful of the three Bihus is the Bahag Bihu or Rongali Bihu. This marked the beginning of the agricultural season. Next is the Kati Bihu and last one is the Magh Bihu. Astronomically the Bahag Bihu is associated with the vernal equinox, the Kati Bihu with the autumn equinox and Magh in the winter solstice. The first is celebrated at the time of preparing the field, the second at the stage when the young paddy seedlings are transplanted and third when the harvest has been gathered.

Rongali or Bahag Bihu ( বৈশাখ )
Bahag Bihu

The Bahag Bihu is the most colorful and gay. It begins usually on the last day of Chaitra, although different communities begin it on different days of the week. Sometimes it lasts for a month, at others for four to five days. Sometimes it lasts for a month, at others for four to five days happens in the month of April.
 It is divided into four phrases each lasting a day or a few days.

Goru Bihu

The first phase is dedicated to cattle and is called the Goru Bihu. Cows and other cattle are besmeared with mustard oil and taken to the nearest watershed or rivers or ponds accompaniment of songs and music. The people also take the bath in the river to receive the cattle with great ceremony in the evenings. After feeding the cattle with salted rice-cakes there is festivity, including music and dance. On this day is performed the Go-Lakshmi Puja.  
Manuh Bihu

The second phase is dedicated to human beings, and is called Manushya or Manuh Bihu. After ceremonious bath, new clothes are worn, presents are exchanged between families, relatives and friends. On this day, there is a puja to Mahadeva for protection and well being. During this phase are also arranged many Husari parties of group singing and dancing. The Husari parties visits homes and perform Bihu dances in the open. The first part of the dance is consisting of a kirtan known as Husari kirtan accompanied by slow body movements. One man sings the refrain and the others repeat it. The participants dance in a circle; as is usual, the tempo is slow and gradually it increases and ends in fast tempo. The musical accompaniment is the dhol, taal, and toka. Besides the Husari singing and dancing, there are other Bihus which are held under the sheds of giant trees. Here young men and women both take part and dance to the lilting music of the Bihu songs. Musical accompaniment is more elaborate in these Bihu dances: besides the dhol, taal and toka, there is also pepa and gogona. The vocal music is consists of short couplets love which are constantly repeated. The dance begins into circle and soon breaks into parallel lines. The drummer is the natural leader; he often utters the bols first and then plays them on the drum and also sometimes dancing with the fantastic skills with his drum.
The third phase is dedicated to the gods and is called 'Gosani Bihu'. On this day prayers and performance of music and dance is held at Namghar.



Finally the fourth or last phase is called the 'Bihu Urva' or 'Bihu Thowa'. This is performed ceremoniously at a distant place from the village, in a forest or lonely paddy field. All the articles are used in this festival are left at this place: this marks the formal end of the festivities
One trends to get a little forgetful in the atmosphere, songs seen to spring to one’s lips, and if one is young the heart flutters a little, perhaps in yearning. One sings:

‘Aikai cenehar mugare muhara
Atikai cenehar mako
Tatokai cenehor bohagar bihuti
Nepati kenekai thako?’

Sunday 20 September 2015

Origin Of Bihu ( বিহু)

Performance Of Bihu
Bihu denotes three different festivals of Assam, celebrated by the Assamese and it is the National Festival of Assam. Its inclination is mainly on the agricultural side than the religious side. Bihu is a festival of rejoice, offer thanks and pray for a bountiful harvest celebrated by all the tribes and others regardless of what their caste, religion faith and beliefs.It is believed that the festival of Bihu originated in the pre – Aryan days around the 3500 BC. The name ‘Bihu’ is said to be originated from the Sanskrit word ‘Bishu’. It is also noted that the word ‘Bihu’ is derived from the ‘Dimasa’ community. Bi means "to ask" and Shu means "peace" and “prosperity”. The word Bishu gradually became Bihu for linguistic preferences.  Even though this festival has ancient significance and practices, it is eventually become a very popular urban festival in recent decades.

Bihu Dancer With Pepa
Instruments Needed For Bihu






The Bihu festival involves Bihu folk dance and songs. Instruments such like Dhol, Toka, Taal, Pepa, Gogona, Xutuli and Baanhi are used during this festival. Assamese considered their supreme god as Brai or Father Shibrai.  During this festival, the season’s first crop is offered to their god and they pray for peace and prosperity.


communities of Assam Tribal and non- tribal is akin to the place of Lai Haroba in the life of the people of Manipur.  It is celebrated by the Ahoms and Bihu is placed in the life of all heir sub- groups. Unlike the Lai Haroba , this is an agricultural festival which is dearer than anything else to the Asamiya.  They often repeated refrain of many songs is:


‘Very dear to me is the muga bobbin
Very dear is the shuttle;
Dearer still is the Bihu of Bahag
Could I do without it?’



References;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihu
http://festivals.iloveindia.com/bihu/bihu-history.html
http://www.mapsofindia.com/assam/society/bihu.html
Traditions Of Indian Folk Dance - Kapila Vatsyayan