Bihu Dance

The word ‘Bihu’ doesn’t have a literal translation into English. Bihu is not just a word. It’s a feeling. Not just happiness, Bihu teaches every Assamese to celebrate sadness too. Primarily, there are three Bihus celebrated by Assamese community- Rongali or Bohag Bihu (Festival of happiness), Kongali or Kati Bihu (Festival of scarcity) and Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu ( Festival of feasting). All these festivals marked certain special occasions in the lives of the farmers of Assam and were celebrated during their leisure periods in between farming season, and became the identity of the people of this land and the community as a whole. Although the connection with nature is now shrinking gradually, these festivals steeped in local flavour are still an essential part of Assamese culture.

Dance forms in India know no boundaries of caste and creed as they depict oneness of the nation. They may have originated in different states of the country but all of them symbolize the joy and liveliness of a certain event. Bihu is a popular folk dance associated with the state of Assam in India and it is performed generally during the Bihu festival. The Bihu dance is performed during the Rongali Bihu.