Bihu is the biggest festival of the people of Assam region. Now Assam is actually a much shortened form of the region previously known as Assam or Kamaroopa. No other festival generates such enthusiasm and high spirits among all age groups as does Bihu, cutting across all man made divisions of a human society. This is truly a regional festival which brings a sense of solidarity and unity among all the people of a region.Coming thrice in a year and marking the change of seasons in the lush and verdant hills and valley at the foothills of the Himalaya in Assam. It is April which is the spring season here when felicity and joy start oozing from nature. Flowers and foliage cover the landscape and 'Ropoful' (orchids) of exotic shape and color hang from the trees in their magnificent splendor. The purple orchid is the favorite of the girls which adorns their hair. The first of the three Bihus' which falls on Chait Sankranti (transition of the Sun in Aries or. Mesh around middle of April). It is called Bihag Bihu or Rangoli Bihu.

Historically these festivals and the dances associated with them are of pre-Aryan origin. In fact the Aryan influence is conspicuous by mostly its absence in this region. In fact Bihu is essentially a festival of fertility. Hence its all dances and rituals point towards this very fact. The farmer believed that songs with evident erotic contents would lead to a strong sexual arousal in the body of the earth which would result in increased crop production. The dances are performed exclusively by men with no holds are barred to erotic manifestations. These men craving for higher fertility of the land dance whole might in their open fields. Now this celebration is being developed as a sort of healthy competition with boys and girls from different localities forming groups and invite veterans to teach and lead them in the competitive performance of dances which express the Assamese 'joie de vivre' In this sense, Rangoli Bihu is the most festive and gayful of all the Bihus. Other Bihus are known as Magh Bihu and the Kati Bihu.

The Bihag or Bohag Bihu is a spring, new year and agriculture festival all rolled into one. Spring is the season when all nature, so lush and rich in Assam is vibrant with new life; trees creepers and orchards are in bloom, the air is fragrant with flowers, and bird song reverberates through hills and plains. This spirit imbues the people also and is given full play in the festival of Bohag Bihu. Since it is most colorful, it is also dearly called Rangoli Bihu. 'Bohag' is the first month of the Assamese calendar and 'Chot' or Kati the last. The Bohag Bihu thus marks the advent of the new year. Naturally people's thoughts are on their hopes for the welfare and prosperity of family and the community in the coming year. Prayers are offered and homage paid to elders and their blessing sought.

Usually at this time nor' wester strike Assam and bring the first showers. Tradition among the Assamese has it that these winds are caused by 'Bardoichila' - a legendary lady who visits her mother during Bihu and returns to her in laws after a few days. The showers accompanying the storms revive the parched land which is then ready to be prepared for planting seeds and seedlings Normally every home in Assam used to have a loom. The women wove their own clothes and one of the special weaves is the 'gamacha' a decorated towel with intricate designs woven in. They are a prized possession, given as any (Bihu presents), especially by a mother to her son, a wife to her husband - in short by the one to one's dearest (male). Worn over the waist over their white 'dhoti' or 'lungi' or as head hands these 'gamachas' ceremonially adorn men especially during festivity. They are also used to cover the especial places reserved for 'Tamul' (Tam boola or betel leaves) to be offered to the 'Bihu dais' (Bihu teams) that come visiting and dancing all through the week with their music instruments called dhool (dhol or drums), pepa (an instrument made from buffalo horn) and gagana (made from bamboo and held between the teeth) and small cymbals keeping rhythm. They sing devotional songs, in a style known as 'hoseri', invoking Lord Krishna to bless their households with health, wealth and prosperity.

The first day of this Bihu is known as Goru Bihu (Cattle Bihu) and is reserved for cattle rites. 'Gosain Bihu' (God's Bihu) is called the third day of Bihu which is set apart for religious services. The following days have no special rites associated with them, but the seventh Bihu day, the Sat Bihu, has its especial significance. On this day, it is customary to eat a special preparation of seven different kinds of leafy vegetables called 'Sat Sak.' In some parts of lower Assam, the sat-saki is a minor ceremony in which elderly women go to some waste land near the villages to collect the leaves and there they daily sing and sometimes dance.