Rongali Bihu (Bohag Bihu) 2027: Muscat, Oman

Rongali Bihu (ৰঙালী বিহু), also called Bohag Bihu (বহাগ বিহু), is the spring festival of Assam that welcomes the Assamese New Year (অসমীয়া নৱবৰ্ষ) and the month of Bohag (ব’হাগ).

It begins with Goru Bihu (গৰু বিহু), the day of the cattle: cows are taken to rivers and ponds, bathed with a paste of turmeric and black gram, struck gently with sprigs of dighloti and makhiyati, and fed pieces of gourd and brinjal for their health in the year ahead.

The next day is Manuh Bihu (মানুহ বিহু), the Assamese New Year: people bathe early, wear new clothes, honour elders with a gamosa, and visit relatives. Bihu songs and dance, husori groups and feasts of pitha and laru carry the celebration on for several days.