What is Bohag Bihu?
Bohag Bihu, also called Rongali Bihu, is the Assamese New Year and the biggest festival of Assam. It falls in mid-April at the start of the month of Bohag and celebrates the arrival of spring and the sowing season.
Seven days of Bihu
The celebrations traditionally last seven days. The first day, Goru Bihu, is dedicated to cattle, which are bathed in rivers and fed. The second day, Manuh Bihu, is for people: everyone wears new clothes and seeks the blessings of elders.
Music, dance and gamosa
Young men and women perform the energetic Bihu dance to the dhol, pepa (a buffalo-horn pipe) and taal. People gift each other the gamosa, a white hand-woven cloth with red borders, and enjoy pitha, laru and other traditional snacks.