Bihu 2024: Date, cultural significance, traditions of the harvest festival from Assam

Harvest festivals are a huge deal in different parts of India because we are an agriculture-dependent country. From Pongal to Lohir and Makar Sankranti, India celebrates the harvesting season in different ways. Let us talk about how Assam celebrates the vibrant and colourful festival of Bihu, which is celebrated together, as a community by Assamese people.

Date

Before knowing the dates, it is important to note that Bihu is a three-part festival, with each segment known as Rongali Bihu (Bohag Bihu), Kongali Bihu (Kati Bihu), and Bhogali Bihu (Magh Bihu), each holding unique significance. Celebrated in January, Bhogali Bihu is falling from 14th April 2024 to 20th April 2024.

Significance

Bhogali Bihu (Magh Bihu) - Celebrated in January, Bhogali Bihu is primarily focused on feasting and expressing gratitude for the harvest. The night before Bhogali Bihu is known as Uruka, during which communities come together to build makeshift huts called Meji and Bhelaghar, where they gather for a grand feast. The following day, the Meji and Bhelaghar are set ablaze, symbolising the end of the harvest season.

Traditions

Bihu dance - Bihu dance is an integral part of the festival, performed by both young and old alike. It involves energetic movements, symbolising the joy and enthusiasm associated with the arrival of spring. It is a folk dance, which is almost always performed in big groups.

Traditional attire - During Bihu, people don traditional Assamese attire. Women wear Mekhela Chador, a two-piece garment, while men don dhotis and gamosas, traditional Assamese towels.

Feasting - Bhogali Bihu is synonymous with grand feasts. Traditional Assamese dishes like pitha, laru, and various delicacies made from newly harvested crops take center stage during these celebrations.

Meji and Bhelaghar - The construction and burning of Meji and Bhelaghar during Uruka symbolise the community's gratitude to the deities for a successful harvest and protection against evil forces.