Akhomiya Bihu: The spring season is considered a herald of happiness by all people for centuries. April is a beautiful month when winters start getting warmer and the days get longer. Flowers bloom in all their magnificence in this season. The month of April is very dear to the people of Assam, as it is the most beloved festival of Bohag Bihu to entertain every Assamese. This spring festival is celebrated under different messes in almost all parts of India. It is Baisakhi in Punjab, Bohag Bihu in Assam, Poila Baisakh in West Bengal, Vishu in Kerala, Pudu Varsham in Tamilnadu.
IMAGE SOURCEModel: Jintee Barman - ig/_jintee1DOP: Maddy - ig/mriganka_photography_Aditional: Momi Das - ig/momidas706
Bohag Bihu, also known as "Rongali Bihu", a spring festival, is most dear to the people of Assam which is celebrated in the month of april.
Why Bohag Bihu Has More Importance Among All Bihus?
Like all the other things Rongali Bihu has additionally gone through a great deal of progress, as is just natural. Gone are the days when young fellows in bunches came to different homes to sing and move in the old fashion. Little youngsters moved in isolated open space, wearing appealing 'muga reeha-mekhela' with charming 'Kopou Phools" decorating their hair.
Of all the Bihus the 'Bohag Bihu' or the "Rongali Bihu" is the most blissful. This spring celebration proclaims the Assamese New Year. In spite of the annoyance surrounding us, people are glad to invite the spring celebration. At any rate, people can have some relief from every one of the concerns and tensions. Arrangements for the festival of Bohag Bihu two or three months back and now conceivably they have been finished. "Bihutolis' have become hives of exercises — melodies, moves, the pounding sound of 'dhol', 'khol', 'pepa', 'gaga'etc.
During a time when young ladies go for casuals like pants, shorts, or miniskirts, they might not have even the haziest thought of a 'reeha'. Indeed, even in the shops where they sell lovely mekhela chadars and marriage dresses, the 'reeha' is prominently missing. However, on prior occasions, no Assamese woman steps out of her home without wearing a reeha. The dress was incomplete without the reeha. Unfortutely today it has become a museum piece.
Bihu Dance & Culture
What I observed in Bihu held in Dhemaji upper Assam was full of cultural songs and dance performances by a different group which consists of different male and female members of young girls and boys. These girl's members used to dance wearing a traditional dress called Mekhela Chador which is draped around like a saree and whereas the male members of the troop wear a dhoti, which is usually made of cotton. The dhoti is worn in traditional drapes to cover the lower portion of the body, while playing an instrument called dhol, khol and pepa, while performing the Bihu dance.
Traditional Food
Once, women kept busy weeks before the arrival of the Bihu, getting ready with the ingredients like 'Bora' rice, coconut, 'gur', 'til' etc for making the delicacies. The ladies of the rural areas are adept at making those mouth-watering pithas.
And one of the most interesting things about this Bohag Bihu was, a group of the different members visit each household, and it may be their relatives or neighbors and they perform their dance. After ending the performance the household brings up and offers them delicious pithas and some other varieties of food items along with the traditional gamusha, also the betel nut.
The practice of Gamocha Offering and Blessing
It is the act of the Assamese ladies to offer a 'gamocha' to the men society. In Assamese society, a gamocha has an exceptionally extraordinary spot. It is required during the Bihu, yet additionally, at different capacities like pujas, gatherings, weddings, and so on It is an image of adoration and regard. Any recognized individual visiting Assam is welcomed with a 'gamocha'. Rongali Bihu can't be envisioned without gamochas. When Assamese ladies were gifted in weaving, they could make wizardry in their manifestations. None could rise to them in this craftsmanship. Be that as it may, unfortunately, weaving has become a perishing workmanship - particularly in the metropolitan zones. In towns, it is as yet being kept alive. Present-day ladies are not skilled in weaving and the present young ladies in the towns and urban areas may not have seen a loom. It is a horrible pity that a particularly extraordinary and exceptional specialty of weaving has been bit by bit faded from the state.
The custom of offering a gamocha to the men during the Bihu is as common. Presently few of the peoples go to the market to purchase gamochas. People have kept up the practice of offering gamochas to the men society and since they can't make them, they need to get them from the market, which are accessible in plenty and which are sold like hotcakes. People also told that most of the 'gamochas' people buy, are really imported from outside Assam. There is a world of difference between a gamocha made at home and the one bought from the market.
Bihu Dance Video Clips performed by Printy Neog
Before leaving their home they used to bless the inmate of each household and to let you know that this is also an important part of their culture. Bihu rituals were performed almost with religious enthusiasm.
The importance of Betel-nut in Bihu
Betel-nut has its own importance in the entire Assamese families and during the Bihu, they served small platter nut to each guest before leaving their home. This is not only practiced in the Bihu occasionally but all the time if any guest visits their home they offer it.
Also Read: 5 Things to Know about the Joy of Spring Festival Bohag Bihu in Assam
Conclusion:
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