Why In The News:

• Traditional Assamese Gamosa (rectangular piece of cloth) sees surge in demand ahead of ‘Bohag Bihu’.

About the Bihu:

=> Bihu is the essence of Assam and is celebrated across the state with a tremendous zeal and enthusiasm.

=> There are three Bihu festivals namely:

=> ‘Bohag Bihu’ is  celebrated in the month of ‘Bohag’ (Baisakh, the middle of April): It  is also called the Rongali Bihu and is a festival of merriment and heralds the Assamese New Year and the onset of spring.

‘Magh Bihu’ is celebrated in the month of ‘Magh’ (the middle of January): It is also called Bhogali Bihu, which is quintessentially the festival of food. It marks the end of the harvesting season. The eve of the Magh Bihu is called the Uruka.

=> ‘Kati Bihu’ is celebrated in the month of ‘Kati’ (Kartik, the middle of October) : It is also called Kongali Bihu unlike the other Bihu’s, is not a flamboyant festival and the festivities are graver in nature. An earthen lamp is lit near the Tulsi plant which is termed as the ‘Tulsi Bheti’.

Significance:

• Each Bihu coincides with an idiosyncratic phase in the farming calendar.
• The Bohag Bihu marks the New Year at the advent of seeding time, the Kati Bihu marks the completion of sowing and transplanting of paddies, and the Magh Bihu marks the end of the harvesting period.