Assam refrains from Rongali Bihu celebration amid lockdown

Amid nationwide lockdown, the Rongali/Bohag Bihu celebrations in Assam did not witness the usual gaiety and fervour with which the two-day festival is held across the state under normal circumstances.

Guwahati:Rongali/Bohag Bihu - one of the biggest festivals in the state of Assam - was celebrated on Monday, but without the usual gaiety and fervour given the nationwide lockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus disease.

The Rongali Bihu, which marks the beginning of new Assamese calendar year, is the most colourful festival of the state marked with singing and dancing across Assam.

The people of the state, however, mostly remained indoors and observed, if not all but certain rituals associated with the two-day festival.

“These are bad times for us. Bohag Bihu is staring at us, but it isn’t the same as earlier. But we will still try to celebrate it within our house in a humble way,” said a local resident.

Usually, the first day of Rongali Bihu is observed as Goru Bihu (meaning cattle Bihu) across the state. Cattle are taken to a pond by their owners and given a ceremonial bath. They are then stroked with dighalati pat (leaf of a plant having medicinal value), which helps ward off flies and insects from their bodies.

The second day of Bihu, which falls on the first day of new Assamese Calendar month of Bohag (Sunday), is known as "Manuh Bihu" (Human Bihu).

On this day, people wear new clothes and indulge in merrymaking by dancing and singing, apart from paying a visit to the elder members of the family.