Bohag Bihu or the Rongali Bihu is the New Year festival of Assamese. This festival comes mostly in the middle of April and normally it falls on April 15th or a day before or after. The festival comes during spring and the first day is called as Garu Bihu and on this day bulls, cows and cattle are bathed and fed well with brinjal and gourds. The heads are smeared with turmeric and they are tethered with new ropes too.
On the second day, Manush Bihu men, women and children wear new clothes and eat the delicacies named Pitas and Larus. prepared in the house. This day is marked as the day of harmony and people settle old differences and quarrels. People visit their friends and relatives and exchange the delicacies prepared. Gifts like hand woven scarves are also exchanged. The bihu festival is celebrated for a week. And people involve themselves in singing and dancing with the traditional bihugeets, traditional folk songs. The Rangoli Bihu dance is a traditional dance which starts at a very slow pace and accelerates speed slowly. The songs are sung in chorus and the dance is done in groups and in circles. The songs are accompanied by instruments made of bamboo and drums. The best women dancer is awarded Bihu Kunwori.
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