Bohag Bihu:
Bohag Bihu is observed from the last day in the last month of Assamese calendar Chata (called Sankranti, transit or passage from one zodiacal sign to another). Earlier Bohag Bihu was celebrated for seven days together and each day had a different name like Goru Bihu (for cows), Manuh Bihu (for mankind), Tator Bihu (for loom), Gossain Bihu. (for Gods), Nangalor Bihu (for plough), Bihu for domestic animals and Chera Bihu (concluding day of the Bihu). Bohag Bihu is the season of unfettered greenery with early monsoon, and with Nature clad in beautiful colours. Such variety is not to be found elsewhere. On the first day of this Bihu, which is meant for the cows, in the early hours of the morning cows are taken out for washing in .the nearest ponds and ‘Beels’. With the help of a small three pronged shaped Bamboo implement, brinjals and water gourd are cut into pieces and hurled at the cows. Other vegetables like bitter gourd, turmeric and Thekera (the gamboze fruit) are also used. These implements are interchanged with others to ward off the evil. Later in the evening when the cows return ho-me they are tied to new Pogha (rope for tying cow) and the shed is filled with smoke to prevent any evil. Cows are indispensable for cultivation and thus such treatment on the special day. Another important ritual of this day is that ladies and girls apply henna and mehendi on their hands and feet. Mehendi (locally known as Jetuka) is a way of bringing colour to life, apart from its medicinal properties. Manuh Bihu follows Goru Bihu when people visit relatives and exchange Garnochas (a kind of towel woven in cotton). Bihuwan or this Gamocha is a symbol of dignity in Assamese society. Jalpaan, a special food item, is an important part of Bihu. Chira-Doi (flat rice made out of parched half boiled paddy and curds), Aakhoi (fried paddy or Indian corn etc.), Gur (raw or unrefined sugar; molasses), Sandahguri (wet rice parched and pounded into lumps) etc. mainly comprise the Jalpaan. Pithas or rice cakes which are parts of the Assamese delicacy add richness to the feast. Bohag Bihu is the time when people sort out their differences. Hunsari is an integral part of Bohag Bihu. Hunsari constitutes a team which has an elderly .member who leads the other members of the team with men and boys, who go and sing BIER] songs at the houses of every person in the village. The team makes a visit first to the most revered person in the village. The Hunsari team is generally presented with Seleng Chadar (this cloth wrapped round the body), flowery Gamochas or flower)( colourful towels and a silver coin or so. This is the householders’ way of according them respect. The money collected from Hunsari singing is used, for development works like building of a library, a naamghar etc. People also have community feasts with the money collected in this manner. It is a time honoured custom to offer Tamol-Paan or betel nuts to the Hunsari Dol in Bohag Bihu. Bihu folk dance is a seperate item performed by both young men and women. The songs sung are mostly folk tune based and are releted to love. Games like bufallow-fight, cock-fight, arm wrestling are popular. During Ahom. rule these games were held in the fields close to Ranghar taking on the character of Olympiad held in Greece in ancient times. The last day of Bihu is called Chera Bihu. It is a tradition to eat Paita Bhaat (cooked rice soaked in water overnight and consumed the next day) and curds. Hand fans are used for the first time during the year heralding the advent of spring. The Assamese in villages bid farewell to Bihu in a traditional manner. After seven days or eleven days of the Chera Bihu a group of young people go and pay their respectsin the Naamghar with a Sane/ (trey with a stand) of Tamol-Paan and Gamocha to formally wind up the Bihu festiyal. Then they go to a big tree near the village and put the Bihuwan on one of its branches and then leave an instrument used in the ‘Bihu Utsav’, thus symbolically bidding farewell to that year’s Bihu. Baisagu is the Bodo version of Bohag Bihu. This famous festival of Colours and mirth is the most cherished festival of the Bodo people. Like Bohag Bihu, Baisagu is a spring festival celebrated in mid April (Bohag is the first month of Assamese calender). The first day begins With the worship of- cow and the second day with young people seeking blessings from elders. The Baisagu draws no lines or bars. The supreme deity Bathou or lord Shiva is worshipped during the festival.