- By Kashish Rai
- Sun, 13 Apr 2025 06:24 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bohag Bihu 2025 is a traditional festival celebrated in Assam that marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year. The word Bihu originates from - Bisu which means happiness or celebration in the Deori language. Bohag Bihu coincides with Mesha Sankranti and marks the onset of the harvest season in the Indian subcontinent. The Assamese New Year or Bohag Bihu is a time for celebration filled with dance, traditional music and feasting with loved ones.
Check out all the significant details regarding date, timings, significance and rituals for Assamese New Year or Rongali Bihu Festival below:
Bohag Bihu 2025: Date
This year, Bohag Bihu or Assamese New Year will be celebrated on 14th April 2025.
Bohag Bihu 2025: Significance
Bohag Bihu is associated with Lord Vishnu. As per the local legends, it is believed that Shri Hari Vishnu visited Earth as a farmer on this day. People celebrate this festival to mark his arrival and the onset of the new agricultural season. They pray to Lord Vishnu and seek his blessings for peace, prosperity and happiness. Through Bohag Bihu, devotees express gratitude for the land's fertility and ask for a bountiful harvest.
Three types of Bihu are celebrated in Assam throughout the year, each with its own significance. The most popular one is Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu which marks the Assamese New Year. Celebrated in April, Bohag Bihu falls in the Hindu month of Vaisakh or Baisakh. Bohag Bihu is a seven-day festival with each day holding a special importance.
The seven days are Chot Bihu, Goru Bihu, Manuh Bihu, Kutum Bihu, Senehi Bihu, Mela Bihu and Chera Bihu. During this 7-day-long festive period, people come together to celebrate with traditional music, dance and feasting with their families, friends and relatives. The sacred day of Bohag Bihu is a significant occasion for the Assamese community to connect with their roots and cultural traditions.
The sacred occasion of Bohag Bihu marks the Assamese New Year in the Assamese lunisolar calendar. (Image Source: Freepik)
Bohag Bihu 2025: Rituals
Bohag Bihu is a vibrant festival celebrated over a week in three phases, starting with Rongali Bihu where people buy agricultural tools and festive items. Homes are decorated with colourful patterns and traditional dishes like Pitha are prepared in Assamese households.
The second phase, Goru Bihu or Xaat Bihu is dedicated to cows which hold a sacred place in Assamese culture. On this sacred event, people bathe and decorate their domestic cows with garlands, praying for their welfare. Young girls perform the Bihuwan dance and seek blessings from the almighty for a good harvest.
The third phase, Manuh Bihu is a time for enthusiasm, feasting and Bihu performances. People visit friends, share delicacies and participate in the community celebrations. The Husori ritual is a part of this event that involves young people visiting elders to receive blessings and gifts.
Bohag Bihu showcases the rich cultural heritage of Assam through music, folk art and traditional delicacies. The festival is celebrated not only in Assam but also by Assamese people worldwide, who come together to celebrate their cultural heritage.
(Disclaimer: This content includes advice providing generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified spiritual or astrological opinion. Always consult a specialist for more information before adopting any measures.)
ALSO READ: Vishu 2025: Date, Time, Significance And Rituals Of Malayalam New Year