Bohag Bihu, or Rongali Bihu, is the festival of Assam: the new year, the spring, and seven days of song and dance. The first of Bohag is Manuh Bihu, the people's day. Everyone bathes with turmeric, puts on new clothes, and bows to the elders, who are given a new gamosa, the white cloth with red borders that is Assam's emblem. Then the husori parties begin their rounds, and the Bihu dance its season.
The story
Bihu is older than any temple in Assam, a festival of sowing and courtship. Its songs, the Bihu geet, are quick couplets of love and teasing, sung to the dhol, the buffalo-horn pepa and the bamboo gogona.
The Ahom kings brought it to court, watching from the Rang Ghar at Sivasagar. It moved on to the public stage in 1952 at Latasil in Guwahati, and now every neighbourhood has its Bihutoli.
ব'হাগ মাথোঁ এটি ঋতু নহয়, নহয় ব'হাগ এটি মাহ; অসমীয়া জাতিৰ ই আয়ুস ৰেখা, গণ জীৱনৰ ই সাহ
Bohag is not just a season, nor is Bohag just a month; it is the lifeline of the Assamese people, the courage of their common life
Bhupen Hazarika
How the days go
- Manuh BihuThe first day: baths, new clothes, and the blessing of elders.
- BihuwanA gamosa woven at home is given to each elder and guest.
- HusoriGroups of men go from house to house singing and dancing in the courtyard; the household offers betel and a gift.
- Bihu naasThe dance, with its swaying hips and quick wrists, in muga and pat silk.
- Xaat BihuSeven days, each with its own name and custom.
- Pitha and jolpanFor every visitor.
Why this date
Bohag Bihu begins on the first day of the solar month of Bohag, which in the Assamese reckoning is the day after the Sun enters Mesha: 14 or 15 April.
Bohag Bihu in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Friday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Monday | |
| 2031 | Tuesday |
More Assamese festivals
14 AprilGoru Bihuগৰু বিহু
8 MayAkshaya Tritiyaঅক্ষয় তৃতীয়া
15 AprilRam Navamiৰাম নৱমী
20 AprilHanuman Jayantiহনুমান জয়ন্তী
22 MarchDoul Utsavদৌল উৎসৱ
14 JulyShayan Ekadashiশয়ন একাদশী
Where to see Bohag Bihu
In Assam
- Rang Ghar, SivasagarAssamThe royal pavilion of the Ahom kings, built for watching Bihu and games.
- Latasil, GuwahatiAssamThe oldest stage Bihu in the state.
- MajuliAssamVillage husori on the river island.
- JorhatAssamA centre of Upper Assam's Bihu competitions.
Across India
- AmritsarPunjabVaisakhi, on the same solar new year.
- KolkataWest BengalPoila Boishakh, the Bengali new year.
- ThiruvananthapuramKeralaVishu, with the first sight of the year.