Bihu is the most important festival of Assam. There are three Bihu:-

Bohag Bihu (or Rongali Bihu)

Bohag Bihu coincides with the sowing season. Bohag Bihu is celebrated from the last day of Chaitra month, which is the last day of the Hindu calendar. Bohag Bihu is celebrated during spring (Basanta), hence is also called as ‘Bosonto Utsav’. Bohag is the first day of Hindu calendar, so it is also a celebration of Assamesse New Year.

Originally Bohag Bihu used to be celebrated for seven days. The days are named as Garu Bihu, Manuh Bihu, Gosain Bihu, Tantar Bihu, Nangal Bihu, Gharasia jib-jantu Bihu and chera Bihu. At some places, Bihu is celebrated for the entire month of Bohag.

As the Assamesse society was basically an agrarian society, so Bihu used to be the festival of religious nature, where farmers used to worship Surya (Sun), Agni (Fire), Pritivi (Earth), and Akash (Shy).

On the Garu bihu day, cows and bulls are taken to riverside, washed properly and fed with different vegetables, such as gourd, Brinjal, etc. These animals are given new ropes on this day. It is believed that cows are symbol of fertility and helps in increasing the agricultural output. On this day, girls and women decorate their hands with Mehendi (Jetuka).

Next day is called as Manuh Bihu. On this day relatives and friends are shown respect by giving a Gamocha (Bihuwan). This day is also used to improve the strained relations. People enjoy the day by offering items made of Rice (Chira, Akhai, Sandah guri, Korai guri,etc.)

Cheera Bihu is the last day of Bohag bihu celebration. From this day people start using hand fan (Bichani). On this day all young people pay their respect at Namghar by offering betel-nut (Tamul-Pan).

Most enjoyable part of Bohag Bihu is Husori. People of different age group sing Bihu geet and dance and visit every house of the village. This Husori party is shown respect and offered some gifts, which may include money or other things. These collections are often used to repair Namghar, schools and other social buildings; some even have social dinner together (Bhoj).

Another important event seen during Bohag Bihu is organizing village games, competition such as Bihu geet, Bihu dance and selection of best dancer (Bihu Konwari). Often Animal fights such as bull fight, cock fight, fight of Bulbuli bird are organized. Earlier, Bihu used to be a festival mostly celebrated in the agriculture fields but with changing time it is celebrated on artificial stages (Bihu Manch).

Bohag Bihu in Assam is celebrated by different names. In Gowalpara it is called ‘Bishuwa’; Boros called it ‘Baishagu’; Rabhas called it ‘Baishakkh Domahi’; Hajongs called it ‘Lewatona Bihu’ etc.

Kati Bihu (or Kangali Bihu)

It is celebrated when the fields are empty and new sowing season is yet to begin. As during this time the store of grains is decreasing and new stock is yet to come hence it is a period of scarcity (Kangali)

Magh Bihu (or Bhogali Bihu)

Magh Bihu coincides with the harvesting season. By this time, the harvesting is over and the stock of grains is abundant. Hence, there is plenty to eat and feed, so this Bihu is celebrated as Bihu of abundance (Bhogali).

New Years in other parts of India

Different parts of India celebrate their New Year on different time and each society has a valid reason to celebrate their New Year in that manner.

In Andhra and Karnataka, New Year is known as ‘Chaitra Shuddha Pratipade’. In Maharashtra it is called ‘Gudi Padwa’ and Malayalam New Year is called ‘Vishu festival’. All these days coincide with month of March on Gregorian calendar.

In Punjab, New Year is called ‘Baishakhi’; In Bengal it is called ‘Baishakh’; In Assam it is called ‘Bohag’ and Tamil's New Year Day is called ‘Puthandu’. These festivals are celebrated in the month of Baishakh, which coincides with 13-14^th day of April

Gujrati New Year is celebrated in the month of Kartik and called ‘Bestu Varas, Varsha-pratipada or Padwa’. This coincides with the month of October and comes on next day of Diwali.

Sikkim’s New Year starts on 18th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar

A garden seems beautiful if it has varieties of flower. India is a land of varieties where each community is unique in its cultural believes yet forms an integral part of the Indian society. Even vital celebrations like New Year of different communities differ and do not coincide. Unlike other parts of the world this differences are the actual strength of India.

Hence Anekta me Ekta is the main Mantra of Bharat.

Ankuran celebrated the festival of Bihu on 11th of April and here are the photos of Students performance: