Much like other places of India, Assam also has its unique festivals not known or celebrated elsewhere. Of all the local festivals celebrated in Assam, the most significant are the Bihu Festivals. The Bihu Festivals are celebrated with a gay abandon and joy by all Assamese people cutting across caste, creed, religion, faith and belief divides. The chief attraction of the festivals is the wondrous Bihu dance by young boys and girls accompanied by beautiful songs sung by women. People also wear new clothes and prepare some delicious exotic dishes on the occasion.
The word ‘Bihu" owes its origin to the Sanskrit word ‘Vishu’. The Bihu festivals signify a celebration of farming, mainly paddy. Three Bihu festivals are celebrated in a year-- Bohaag Bihu, Kaati Bihu, and Maagh Bihu.
Bohaag Bihu is also known as Rongaali Bihu or the Festival of Merriment, Maagh Bihu is also known as Bhogaali Bihu or the Festival of Food, Kaati Bihu is also known as Kongaali Bihu or the Festival of the Poor.
The Bohaag Bihu signifies the arrival of seeding time, the Kaati Bihu marks the completion of sowing and transplanting of paddies, and the Maagh Bihu signifies the end of the harvesting period.
