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?’