Assamese main festival of Assam :
Bihu festival of Assam : Bihu is the most important festival of Assam. Like many other community festivals,Bihu is a festival related with agriculture. The rights and tradition of the festivals are therefore related to to the festivity cult.At the beginning of a new agriculture cycle when nature become pregnant with sprouting leaves and blooming flowers,men and women in a jubilant mood dance and sing invoking for good crops. Three bihu festival of Assam namely Bohag Bihu,Kati Bihu and Magh Bihu are observed at different times.
Bohag Bihu : The Bohag Bihu is the most colourful and this is why,it is often called as Rongali Bihu. The Bohag Bihu marks the advent of the sowing season and is basically celebrated as the spring festival.
Kati Bihu : The Kati Bihu or the Kongali Bihu is so called because it is celebrated during the month of Kati when almost every articles becomes scarce. People light earthen lamp near Tulsi plants in their fields and silently pray for a good harvest and a full granary.
Magh Bihu : Magh Bihu celebrated after harvesting the crop. It is also called Bhogali Bihu as it is celebrated in the middle of January. Small huts called mejis are built for preparing food and feasting. During night the people circle around the bonefire and sing and play games.
Next morning,they throw Pithas and betel nuts in to the fire. They also worship fire god's marking the finale of harvesting season.After that they go to the open field and witness several traditional games and sports like buffalo fights,cock fights and wrestling as well as many modern games and sports.
Ambubashi Mela : This is the most important festival of Assam . It is also known as Aamati, Aamete or Sath in lower Assam and Sathlaga in upper Assam. Ambubashi Mela, which is held every year during monsoon (mid June) at Maa kamakhya temple of Guwahati.
During Ambubashi the doors of temple remain closed for three days. It is believed that the earth becomes impure for three days. During this time no farming work is undertaken.
Jonbil Mela : This spectacular Mela is held every year during winter at jonbeel of Jagiroad,a lesser known township only 32 kms.from Guwahati. A big market is organised during this Mela and people from various tribes and communities exchange their products.
Also read:👉Important places of Assam.
But, before the mela open fire worship or Agni puja is performed. It is to be noted that during this Mela the king of Tiwa tribes collects taxes from his subjects. Colourful dance and music mark the mela. The whole atmosphere is swinging with fun and joy.
Shivaratri festival : Shivaratri is another very famous and widely celebrated religious festival of Assam. It is basically,a festival of the shaivites. A few places in Assam where Shivratri is held on a large scale are- The Sukreswar temple (Guwahati), The shiva dol(Sibasagar), The Umananda temple (Guwahati), The Mahabhirav temple (Tezpur).
Me-dam-me-phi : The most important festival of Ahoms. It is celebrated annually on 31st January at some common venues. It is mainly about worshipping the ancestors. Devotees dressed in traditional fineries take out colourful processing on the occasion.
Tribal festivals in assam :
Baikho festival : Baikho or khaksi is the biggest festival of the Rabha tribes of Assam. It is a spring time fertility. Festival celebrated to propitiate the goddess of wealth Baikho the festival is mainly celebrated for enhancing the festivity of soil. It begins with religious ballads aulogising the heroic past of Rabha.Ali-Ai-Ligang : Ali-Ai-Ligang, the spring festival of the Mishing tribes,is the most colourful festival held every year on the first Wednesday of the month of February-march. It is celebrated for 5 day's and during this festival certain taboos with respect to the cutting of trees, fishing, ploughing, burning,jungles etc.are strictly observed.
Baishagu : Famous for its myriad colours and merriment, Baishagu is generally celebrated by the Bodo Kacharis of Assam during mid April. It is the most cherished festival of the Bodo tribes. The Bodos also celebrated it as a spring time festival at the advent of the new year.
Rongker and Chomangkan : Rongker and Chomangkan are two most important festivals celebrated by the Karbis of Assam. The Rongker is basically a spring festival whereas, Chomangkan is a festival which is basically celebrated as a funeral ceremony.
Rajni Gabra and Harni Gabra : This is the annual festival of the colourful Dimasa tribes. It is exclusively a socio-religious festival which is generally observed before starting a new cultivation.
Bohaggiyo Bishu : It is most fascinating spring festival of the Deoris of Assam. Bohaggiyo Bishu is observed during mid April of a stretch for 7 days with unrestricted joy and merrymaking. It is to be observed that the Deoris Bishu do not always fall on the Sankranti day. The Bishu must be processed by a Thaan Ghar and evidently if must start on a Wednesday.
Tusu Puja : It is one of the religious and female based festivals celebrated by the tea tribes of Assam . Tusu is a Goddess of tea tribes. It is performed in the Assamese month Magh. A colourful dance known jhumur is also performed with great joy and enthusiasm as the part of Tulsi Puja.
The major festivals celebrated in assam are:
| Bihu. | Baishagu. |
| Ali-Ai-Ligang. | Baikho. |
| Rongkar. | Rajini Gabra. |
| Harni Gabra. | Bohaggiyo Bishu. |
| Ambubashi Mela. | Jonbill Mela. |
| Holi. | Durga Puja. |
| Diwali. | Saraswati Puja. |
| Lakshmi Puja. | Kali Puja. |
| Idd. | Muharram. |
| Me-dam-me-phi. | The birth anniversary of Srimanta Sankar deva and Madhav deva. |
| Kherai Puja. | Baikho. |
| Pharkantis. | Parag. |
| Sagra-misawa wansawa. | laghun. |
| Kaziranga festival. | Majuli festival. |
Also read:👉Popular dances of Assam.
