The Assamese new year and spring festival, with Bihu dance and , gifts and family feasts.
The story
- The first day of the Assamese New Year and the start of the farming season.
- Cattle are bathed on the first day; then come new clothes, gifts and elders' blessings, with Bihu dancing and drumming for about a week.
- In 2023, 11,304 dancers and drummers set a Guinness world record at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati.
What happens
- First day
Rongali Bihu begins
The first day of ; celebrations run for about a week.
Best places to see it
What to eat
Pitha
Rice cakes, sweet and savoury, including til pitha with sesame and jaggery.
Made in homes and sold at Bihu stalls and markets.
Jolpan
The Bihu breakfast: doi-chira (curd with flattened rice) with jaggery, and laru, sweet coconut or sesame balls.
Homes, and stalls at Bihu functions.
Know before you go
- , the Assamese scarf, is a traditional gift.
- Village celebrations can be quieter and more traditional than city stages.
- Guwahati is the main gateway to Assam.
Organised by
Community celebration
There's no single organiser. Local committees, temples and families make it happen, so welcome and etiquette matter more than tickets.