Rongali Bihu
Mid-April, from about 14 April (Assamese new year)
Rongali, or Bohag, Bihu marks the start of the Assamese new year and the beginning of the sowing season. It is the most joyful of Assam's three Bihu festivals and is celebrated by all communities across the state. The first day, Goru Bihu, honours cattle, which are bathed in rivers and ponds and decorated. The following days, Manuh Bihu and after, are for people: new clothes, visits to elders, gifts of gamosa, the white and red woven towel, and feasts.
The Bihu dance is the festival's best-known image. Young men and women dance in groups to the dhol drum, the pepa buffalo-horn pipe, the gogona mouth harp and the toka bamboo clapper, singing Bihu songs of love and spring. In Guwahati and other towns, stages called Bihutolis host performances and competitions for a week or more.
Food is central: pitha rice cakes, laru sweets, curd and chira, and home-cooked meals shared between families. We arrange visits to village celebrations, where Bihu is most authentic, and evening performances in Guwahati. The festival coincides with warm weather and the start of the pre-monsoon storms.
How to do it well
- Village celebrations are often more authentic than city stages; ask us to arrange a visit with a host family.
- Expect closed offices and some shops on the main Bihu days, and heavy traffic around Bihutolis in the evenings.
- A gamosa makes a meaningful gift for hosts; buy a handwoven one from a weaver.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
When is Rongali Bihu celebrated?
Rongali Bihu begins around 14 April each year, marking the Assamese new year, with the main celebrations over the following days and stage events lasting a week or more. Exact days follow the Assamese calendar. Check current status before you travel.
Where can I see Bihu dance?
Bihu dances are performed at stage events called Bihutolis in Guwahati and other towns, and in villages across Assam. Village celebrations are more personal and traditional. We arrange visits to both, with a local guide who can explain the songs and customs.
What food is eaten during Bihu?
Pitha rice cakes, laru sweets made of coconut or sesame, chira flattened rice with curd and jaggery, and festive meals with fish, meat and vegetables. Families share food with visitors, and tasting homemade pitha is part of the experience.
Is Bihu a good time to visit Assam?
Yes, for culture. The festival is joyful and welcoming. The weather is warm, around 30 °C, with afternoon storms beginning. Kaziranga is still open in April, so a Bihu visit can combine with safaris, though some park activities slow during the festival.
Festival journeys
Routes built around the calendar
