Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the festive spirit of Rongali Bihu fills Guwahati and other parts of Assam with vibrant preparations underway to celebrate the state’s most significant festival.

Preparations for Assam’s biggest festival are in full swing, with many Bihu organizing committees hosting Bihu dance workshops across different parts of Guwahati.

One such workshop was organized by Pub-Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan at Chandmari field in Guwahati, attracting more than 700 students. Simanta Thakuria, the General Secretary of Pub-Guwahati Bihu, expressed, “This year, Pub-Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan is celebrating its 63rd year, and we aim to pass on our culture to the new generation. We have organized this Bihu dance workshop, which is a 10-day event running until April 11. Along with students, many guardians also participated. Currently, more than 700 students are part of the workshop.”

The Bihu dance workshop commenced on April 2, aiming to teach and preserve the rich cultural heritage associated with Rongali Bihu.

Rongali Bihu, also known as Bohag Bihu, holds immense significance among the Assamese people, marking the onset of the Assamese New Year. Falling typically in mid-April, the festival symbolizes the beginning of the agricultural season and is celebrated with great zeal and fervour.

Rongali Bihu spans seven days, known as ‘Xaat Bihu,’ and involves various cultural activities, traditional rituals, and communal feasting.

On the first day of Rongali Bihu, rituals such as washing and adorning cattle with turmeric paste signify the auspiciousness of the festival, accompanied by songs invoking blessings for their prosperity. Additionally, cattle worship is also performed as part of the festivities.