The Traditional Celebrations of Rongali Bihu in Assam

Rituparna

The Traditional Celebrations of Rongali Bihu in Assam

To experience the traditional festivals in their finest glory, one only has to go to the quiet and serene countryside. The village becomes a whole different place during festivals, and one cannot help but feel at home, even when one is far away from their actual homes. In today’s story, let us dive into the countryside of Assam and experience the rich traditions of Rongali Bihu.

Rongali or Bohag Bihu, the Assamese New Year. Image Source: Pinterest

Urmi rolled down the window to the car to breathe in the fresh air of the countryside. She was travelling to her native village with her mother to celebrate Rongali Bihu with the rest of her maternal family.

Rongali Bihu is also known as Bohag Bihu because it is celebrated in the month of Bohag (Baisakh), the first month in the Assamese calendar.

Since Rongali Bihu marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year as well as a new harvesting season, the celebrations are grander than the other two Bihu festivals (Magh Bihu and Kati Bihu).

Urmi was excited and could barely wait to get there as it was her first Bihu in the village. Because of their busy lives in the city, they rarely could take a break, let alone take a long tour to the village. Beside her, Urmi could see her mother with a strange excitement, almost childlike. An intrigued Urmi found herself asking, “Ma, why are you so happy?”

Her mom smiled, “I am excited about the Rongali Bihu celebrations in the village. I haven’t experienced the authentic Bihu traditions, ever since I moved to the city.”

A confused Urmi asked, “But we celebrate Rongali Bihu with full gusto even in the city! We dress up in our new clothes, eat the homemade laroos (laddoos) and pithas (rice cakes), and offer our prayers to the Gods in our local namghar (community prayer house). “

Smiling once again, her mom replied, “We certainly celebrate Bihu in the city. But it is not as joyous and heart-warming as in the rural areas. Come then, let us celebrate Rongali Bihu in all its glory this time. You will soon understand what I mean”.

Within the next few days in her native village, Urmi’s burning curiosity was finally resolved.

The female dancers move gracefully and in sync to the energetic beats of dhol and high-pitched tunes of the pepa and the audience too lose themselves in the rhythm. Such is the power of husori! **Unfortunately, in the cities, such close-knit communities are hard to find and as such, the tradition of door-to-door performances of husori during Rongali Bihu is not very popular in the cities.

Urmi now certainly understands what her mother had meant. Traditions are, at times, difficult to uphold by people in the cities, because of the busy, chaotic lifestyles and a lack of the community feeling that bind the people in the countryside.

So if anyone needs to get away from the hustle-bustle and reconnect with their roots, they only have to take a trip to the countryside to see how the people there have been proudly upholding their traditions and keeping the spirit of festivals such as Rongali Bihu, alive and happening.

After the prayers, a big feast was organized and a variety of traditional dishes like doi-sira (curd mixed with flattened rice), laroos and pithas made of til (sesame), *narikol (*coconut), gur (jaggery) etc. were laid on the table. The taste was unlike the ones she had in the city. One can truly feel the traditional touch and the love that was put into the dishes.

In towns and cities of Assam, Rongali Bihu celebrations are celebrated for two whole days. But ideally, Rongali Bihu is supposed to last for seven days!

But for Urmi, the most fascinating part of her Rongali Bihu celebration came in the evening when she heard loud sounds of dhol (drum), pepa (hornpipe), bahi (flute) and Bihu tunes out in their sutaal (courtyard). A large group of men and women dressed in the traditional Bihu attire of red and beige (also called the Muga colour) had appeared suddenly. The men had gamusas tied to their head and women too painted a pretty picture with kopou phool ( foxtail orchids) adorning their tied hair buns. The flower is an integral element of Bihu dancers’ outfits.

Since the flower blooms during spring or bohag coinciding with the Assamese New Year, the kopou phool symbolizes new life, merriment and love.

Urmi had never seen a Husori performance during Rongali Bihu in the city, but she had certainly heard of it.

Husori Bihu, sometimes also identified as Bihu carols, is ideally performed by a group of men and women who sing, dance and play the instruments simultaneously. Husori has a rich history too.

It was believed to have been originated during the Ahom rule, when such performances were done for the entertainment of the kings. Gradually, it became a popular tradition in the countryside.

During Rongali Bihu, the husori performers drop by every household in the evenings and perform in their courtyards. After their performances, the male performers give their blessings and pray for the welfare of the household. In return, the households offer them money, Tamul paan, etc. (areca nut and betel leaf) at times, as a reward for their skills.

On the first morning of Rongali Bihu, she woke up to the sound of people humming, talking, and laughing. Outside, in the sutaal (courtyard) of her maternal family’s home, her folks were as busy as bees! Beside them, the cattle owned by her family were also lined up.

Urmi was aware that the first day of Rongali Bihu was called Goru (cow) Bihu.

Since Rongali Bihu also marks the commencement of a harvesting season, cattle who aid the farmers in agriculture, are honoured and pampered for their contribution and hence, this day is called Goru Bihu.

But in the city, where Urmi lives, people rarely own any cattle, and so she has never actually seen this ritual with her own eyes.

Urmi excitedly took note of the ritual. The cattle were first rubbed with oil and then washed thoroughly with turmeric paste (halodi) and black gram (mati maah). The old ropes around their necks and legs were discarded and new ones were tied. Cut pieces of gourd, brinjal etc. were offered to the cattle, as the owners sang a traditional Assamese song, asking the cattle to grow strong and healthy. After that, the animals were let free to roam around in the fields for the day.

“Seems like a holiday for them too!”, Urmi thought.

On the second day, she woke up and got dressed in her new clothes. The second day of Rongali Bihu is called Manuh (people) Bihu, perhaps because it is the time when people pamper themselves with fine dresses and food, and reconnect with one another as well as with their spiritual selves. She saw that her mother, uncles and aunts had all dressed in the traditional attire made of Muga silk. All the women had their hands decorated with bright and colourful jetuka (henna), another significant ritual of Rongali Bihu.

Her mother wrapped a gamusa around her, which is an indigenous symbol of Assamese culture. During Bihu, gifting gamusa is a tradition. Wearing their traditional clothes, Urmi and her folks offered their prayers to the Gods in their local namghar, hoping for a prosperous new year.