Festivals in Assam

bhogali bihu in assam

Assam, a vibrant state in northeastern India, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and diverse festivals in Assam. These festivals reflect its people's unique traditions and vibrant life, celebrating the state's deep-rooted customs and historical significance. Among these, Bihu stands out as the most significant, marking the Assamese New Year and the arrival of spring with joy and enthusiasm. This festival encompasses a series of celebrations, including Rongali Bihu, Kongali Bihu, and Bhogali Bihu, each highlighting different aspects of Assamese culture and agricultural cycles.

The festival of Assam state is only complete with the mention of Durga Puja, a grand celebration showcasing the region's artistic and cultural prowess. This festival displays elaborate decorations, traditional dances, and vibrant processions dedicated to the goddess Durga. It attracts visitors from across the country and beyond, making it a significant cultural event in Assam’s calendar. Among the Assam festivals, the Majuli Festival is notable for its unique focus on the cultural and religious heritage of Majuli, the world's largest river island. This festival highlights the island’s significance as a centre of Vaishnavism and Assamese culture, celebrated with traditional dances, music, and art performances. The festival offers a glimpse into the island's rich traditions and artistic expressions, drawing tourists and devotees alike.

Assam's famous festivals include the Baishagu festival, celebrated by the Bodo community. This festival marks the Bodo New Year and is characterised by traditional dances, songs, and feasts. It is a vibrant celebration of the Bodo culture, featuring intricate rituals and a display of traditional attire. The famous festival of Assam, known as the Jonbeel Mela, is a unique trade fair held on the full moon day of January. This festival involves a barter system where people exchange goods without using money. It reflects the region's traditional trade practices and provides insight into the local customs and lifestyle.

Destination Info
  • Currency INR
  • Phone Code +91
  • Time Zone +5:30
  • Capital City Dispur
  • Best Time to Visit November and May
  • Visa Required Not Required for Domestic Traveller
  • Attractions Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur, Goalpara
  • Airline Serving Jet Airways, Indigo Airlines, Air India, Spicejet Airways, Spicejet Airlines

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Important Festivals in Assam

Bhogali Bihu, also known as Magh Bihu, is a vibrant harvest festival celebrated in Assam, marking the end of the harvesting season. Held in January, it is a time of feasting and merriment, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. The festivities begin with the burning of the traditional Meji bonfire, which represents the offering of crops to the gods. Families come together to prepare special delicacies like pithas (rice cakes) and laru (sweet treats). Traditional sports and games, including buffalo fights, add to the excitement. Bhogali Bihu reflects Assam's rich agricultural heritage and brings communities closer through celebration.

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Ambubachi Mela

The Ambubachi Mela is one of most significant religious festivals in Assam, held annually at the sacred Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. This festival celebrates the menstruation cycle of Goddess Kamakhya, symbolising fertility and the power of creation. Devotees from across the country gather to pay homage and offer prayers during this period. The temple remains closed for three days during the festival, and upon reopening, the sacred water from the temple is distributed among the pilgrims. Spiritual activities mark the Mela, and many ascetics and holy men participate in the rituals. 

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Bihu

Bihu is the most important and widely celebrated festival, representing the cultural essence of the state. There are three distinct forms of Bihu: Rongali (Bohag) Bihu, Bhogali (Magh) Bihu, and Kongali (Kati) Bihu. Rongali Bihu, held in April, celebrates the Assamese New Year and the arrival of spring with joy, feasting, dancing, and music. Bhogali Bihu, celebrated in January, marks the end of the harvest season with grand feasts and bonfires. Kongali Bihu, observed in October, is a more solemn affair focusing on prayers to protect crops. Together, these three phases highlight the agricultural rhythm of Assam. The vibrant festivities and deep-rooted traditions make Bihu one of the most important festivals celebrated in Assam, reflecting the state's cultural and agricultural richness.

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Baisagu

Baisagu is a vibrant festival of Assam state, mainly celebrated by the Bodo community. This festival marks the beginning of the new year for the Bodos and is associated with the harvest season. It is observed with great enthusiasm, featuring traditional dances, songs, and community gatherings. The festival begins with the lighting of traditional lamps, followed by offerings to the family deity and rituals to seek blessings for a prosperous year ahead. People wear their traditional attire and celebrate by singing and dancing to the beats of drums and flutes. The Baisagu festival also includes animal worship, particularly cows.

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Bohag Bihu

Bohag Bihu, also called Rongali Bihu, is the most significant main festival of Assam, marking the Assamese New Year and the arrival of spring. Celebrated with immense joy and enthusiasm, it is a time for renewal, agricultural preparation, and festive activities. People clean their homes, wear new clothes, and indulge in feasts with traditional Assamese dishes like pithas and larus. The highlight of Bohag Bihu is the Bihu dance, performed in open fields and courtyards, accompanied by traditional instruments such as the dhol and pepa. The festival also strengthens the bonds of friendship and community as people visit each other’s homes.

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Kati Bihu

Kati Bihu, also known as Kongali Bihu, is observed in mid-October and is a quieter, more solemn celebration than other Bihu festivals in Assam. It reflects the difficult times of the agricultural calendar when crops are still in their early stages and food supplies are low. During Kati Bihu, farmers light earthen lamps, called "Saki," in their fields and at the base of tulsi plants to ward off evil spirits and protect their crops. Prayers are offered for a successful harvest, and the lamps are believed to guide the spirits of ancestors back home. There are no grand feasts or dances during this Bihu.

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Sankardev Tithi

Sankardev Tithi is a religious festival observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Srimanta Sankardev, a revered saint-scholar and the founder of the Neo-Vaishnavism movement in Assam. Sankardev was a key figure in shaping Assamese culture, religion, and literature, and his contributions continued to influence the spiritual life of the state. The festival is marked by recitations of the saint's writings, devotional songs (Borgeet), and religious discourses held in Namghars (prayer halls). Traditional performances like the Sattriya dance, which Sankardev introduced, are also a central feature of the celebrations. The festival is an essential part of the Assam festival's name list.

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Luit Fest

Luit Fest is a relatively new but growing festival of Assam state that celebrates the Brahmaputra River, known locally as Luit. The festival aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the river and its ecosystem while celebrating the cultural traditions of Assam. Various events like boat races, traditional music and dance performances, and exhibitions showcasing the local heritage are organised during the festival. Luit Fest also provides a platform for artists and environmentalists to come together and highlight the significance of the Brahmaputra to Assam's history and livelihood, which draws attention to the close connection.

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Auni Ai Lao

Auni Ai Lao is a harvest festival celebrated by the Mising community, one of Assam's indigenous tribes. This festival of Assam state takes place after the completion of the sowing season when the fields have been sown with crops, and it marks a period of waiting for the harvest. The celebration includes offering prayers to the gods for a bountiful harvest, accompanied by traditional songs and dances. Auni Ai Lao is also a time for community gatherings, where people come together to cook and share meals, strengthening social bonds. The festival reflects the agricultural traditions of the Mising community.

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Ali-Ai-Ligang

Ali-Ai-Ligang is a vibrant agricultural festival celebrated in Assam by the Mishing community. It marks the beginning of the sowing season for paddy, an essential crop in the region. Celebrated in February, the festival is known for its colourful rituals, traditional dances, and folk songs representing the community’s agricultural heritage. During Ali-Ai-Ligang, young people perform the Gumrag dance, and offerings are made to the deities to ensure a prosperous crop. Special dishes from freshly harvested rice, like purang apin and apong (a traditional rice beer), are prepared for the celebration.

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Jonbeel Mela

Jonbeel Mela is a unique and historical fair that reflects the traditional barter system still practised by certain Indigenous tribes of Assam. Held annually in January near Jagiroad, this festival dates back several centuries. The tribes, including the Tiwa, Karbi, and Khasi communities, come together to trade goods such as grains, vegetables, and handicrafts without using money. In addition to the barter system, the Mela also features cultural performances, traditional sports, and rituals to worship the fire god. The fair promotes harmony and understanding among various communities and is a living reminder of Assam’s ancient traditions. 

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Dehing Patkai Festival

Dehing Patkai Festival is a vibrant cultural festival organised by the Assam government to promote regional tourism. Held in January, it takes place near the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, known for its rich biodiversity. The festival celebrates Assam's cultural diversity and showcases the indigenous communities' local traditions. It features various activities such as traditional music and dance performances, adventure sports, and Assamese handicrafts and cuisine exhibitions. Visitors can also explore the natural beauty and wildlife of the nearby tea gardens. As one of Assam's famous festivals, the Dehing Patkai Festival significantly promotes eco-tourism.

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Raas Mahotsav

Raas Mahotsav is a grand religious festival celebrated in Majuli, the world’s largest river island and a major cultural centre in Assam. This festival, dedicated to Lord Krishna, reenacts scenes from his life, particularly Ras Leela, a dance drama that depicts his youthful days and his playful interaction with the gopis (milkmaids). The performances are held in the Satras (monastic institutions) of Majuli, attracting devotees and tourists alike. Intricate costumes, traditional music, and devotion mark the festival. Raas Mahotsav is one of the most important religious festivals in Assam, highlighting the spiritual and cultural heritage.

FAQs About Festivals in Assam

  1. Q1.
    What is Bihu, and why is it important in Assam?

    Bihu is the most celebrated festival in Assam, marking the Assamese New Year and the arrival of spring. It includes three main parts: Rongali (celebrating harvest), Kongali (observed in winter), and Bhogali (marking the end of harvest). The festival is important for its traditional dances, music, and feasts, reflecting the rich agricultural heritage and cultural vibrancy of Assam.

  2. Q2.
    What are the traditional activities during the Bwisagu Festival in Assam?

    Bwisagu is a festival celebrated by the Bodo community in Assam. Traditional activities include vibrant folk dances, songs, and cultural performances. Community feasts and rituals mark the festival to ensure a good harvest. Celebrants don traditional attire, and the festivities include cultural exchanges and a showcase of traditional Bodo customs, highlighting the community's rich heritage.

  3. Q3.
    What makes the Majuli Festival unique in Assam?

    The Majuli Festival is unique due to its celebration of the cultural and religious heritage of Majuli Island. It features traditional dance, music, and art exhibitions, showcasing Vaishnavism practices and Assamese culture. The festival’s distinctive aspect is its focus on the island's traditions, providing a platform to celebrate and preserve Majuli’s cultural identity and heritage.

  4. Q4.
    How is the Jonbeel Mela significant in Assamese culture?

    Jonbeel Mela is significant for its traditional barter system, where goods are exchanged without using money. Held annually, this fair highlights ancient trading practices and cultural rituals. It offers insight into the local economy and traditions, with participants trading various goods and showcasing traditional Assamese customs, reflecting the historical lifestyle of the region.

  5. Q5.
    What is the significance of Durga Puja in Assam?

    Durga Puja in Assam is significant for its grand celebrations and artistic expressions. It honours the goddess Durga with elaborate decorations, intricate pandals, and cultural performances. The festival includes traditional rituals, music, dance, and community gatherings, representing Assam's cultural diversity and religious devotion, making it a key event in the state's cultural calendar.

  6. Q6.
    What is the role of the Bodo community in celebrating the Baishagu Festival?

    The Bodo community celebrates the Baishagu Festival to mark their New Year. It plays a role in showcasing traditional Bodo culture through dances, songs, and communal feasts. The festival includes rituals that bless the new year and promote a good harvest. Celebrations involve traditional music, colourful attire, and bonding, highlighting the Bodo community's cultural heritage.

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