Bohag Bihu

Assamese

Also known as: Rongali Bihu, Assamese New Year

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2026 Assamese Date

Bohag Bihu

About Bohag Bihu

Bohag Bihu, also known as Rongali Bihu, marks the Assamese New Year and the onset of spring. It falls in mid-April and is the most important festival celebrated by the Assamese people, heralding the beginning of the agricultural season and the month of Bohag (Baisakh).

The festival is celebrated for seven days, each with its own significance. Families prepare traditional delicacies like pitha (rice cakes) and laru (coconut balls), while young men and women perform the traditional Bihu dance in village courtyards. Husori groups go door to door singing Bihu songs and blessing households with traditional Bihu geets.

During Bohag Bihu, people worship Lord Brahma and seek blessings for a prosperous harvest. Elders give blessings to younger family members, and the entire community comes together in joyous celebration. The festival is marked by the preparation of dahi-chira (curd and flattened rice), community feasts, and the decoration of homes with fresh flowers and green banana stalks.

Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules

Bohag Bihu is primarily a celebratory festival rather than a fasting observance, though some devotees observe a light fast on the first day.

Sankalpa Mantra

Om Hrim Brahmane Namah, I offer my prayers for a prosperous year and bountiful harvest.

Step-by-Step Fasting Procedures:

Wake up early and take a ritual bath before sunrise using water mixed with turmeric and mustard seeds.
Offer prayers to Lord Brahma and light an earthen lamp at the family altar.
Prepare and distribute traditional Assamese sweets among neighbours and relatives.
Wear new clothes and participate in the community Bihu dance celebrations.

Puja Samagri & Ritual Steps

Essential Puja Samagri:

Earthen lamps (diya)Turmeric and mustard seedsBetel leaves and areca nutsIncense sticks and fresh flowersRice, curd, and traditional sweetsGreen banana stalks and mango leaves

Puja Procedure:

Clean the house and decorate the entrance with mango leaves and banana stalks.
Prepare the puja area with a clean cloth and place the earthen lamp.
Offer prayers to Lord Brahma and Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity.
Distribute dahi-chira prasad among family and welcome Husori groups.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the significance of Bohag Bihu?

Bohag Bihu marks the Assamese New Year and the beginning of the agricultural season, celebrating nature's renewal and the arrival of spring.

Q: What are Husori groups?

Husori groups are bands of singers who go door to door during Bihu singing traditional songs, blessing households and receiving gifts in return.

Q: What food is prepared during Bohag Bihu?

Traditional Assamese delicacies like pitha (rice cakes), laru (coconut balls), dahi-chira (curd and flattened rice), and other sweets are prepared and shared.

Note: All timings are represented in 24-hour notation in local time of the selected location with DST adjustment (if applicable).

Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang, a day starts and ends with local sunrise.