‘Rongali Bihu’ – the Assamese New Year, Guwahati, Assam, India! – Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve ~ Tour Packages & Safari Bookings Official

Festivals of Assam, the Bihu Dance form of Assam, Ecotourism homestay in Guwahati, Assam Eco tourism and homestay cottages

The State of Assam is the central state in the North-East Region of India and serves as the gateway to North East India and is a jewel in the crown of the Seven Sister States. The land of red river, blue hills & lush green tea gardens, Assam comprises of three main geographical areas: the Brahmaputra Valley, the Barak Valley and the intervening Karbi Plateau and North Cachar Hills. Dispur is the capital of Assam and the largest city of the state is Guwahati, which is also one of the fastest growing cities of the world. Famous for its freshening world class tea, the Muga (Golden) and Eri (Ahimsa) silk, Natural resources like Coal, Petroleum products and minerals, Assam can truly be described as a state bestowed with breath-taking natural beauty, vast reserves of natural resources and a rich bio diversity. Assam is also home to the endangered one horned rhino species and Kaziranga National Park is home to two-third of this species in the world. The river Brahmaputra (the only male river in India) flow across the heart of the state and is a lifeline to the people of Assam just as Nile is to Egypt. The Brahmaputra River in Assam is also host to the World’s largest inhabited river island ‘Majuli’ and the World’s smallest inhabited river island ‘Umananda’. The second hottest pepper in the world, the ‘Bhut Jolokia’ is also native to Assam and is grown extensively by the village folks across the State.

The ‘Rongali Bihu’ marks the agricultural New Year at the advent of seeding time and is celebrated as the Festival of merriment. Rongali Bihu is celebrated with greatest excitement as it marks the arrival of spring – the agricultural season. People of all faiths and creed celebrate Bohag Bihu by singing traditional Bihugeets and performing group folk dances. At the time of Rongali Bihu people welcome the spring season and pray for a bountiful and rich harvest. Bohag Bihu falls in the first month of the Assamese calendar called Bohag. This corresponds to mid-April according to English calendar year. Rongali Bihu normally starts from the 13th day of April. To celebrate the joyous Rongali Bihu festuival, people of Assam wear new and colourful clothes. People visit their neighbours, friends and relatives and distribute sweet as they greet each other a Happy Bihu. Many people also organize grand feasts in the house to celebrate the occasion. Traditional festive food of ‘Rongali Bihu’ is the special cake known as the pitha.

Colorful rituals mark the first day of ‘Rongali Bihu’ celebrated as ‘Goru Bihu’. This day is dedicated to the cattle and livestock. The rest of the week long celebrations of ‘Rongali Bihu’ are known as ‘Manuh Bihu’. A mood of festivity and gaiety is seen throughout Assam during the seven days of Rongali Bihu.

Jungleideas welcomes you to India’s North East to witness the Assamese New Year – the ‘Rongali Bihu Festival’ at Guwahati, the State of Assam, North East India – the ‘Paradise Unexplored’, Incredible India!

Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Festivals of North East India