The Bihu Dance of Assam
Posted on May 12, 2008 in Art & Culture by Gitanjali
The Bihu Festival
Assam is a land of varied culture and a multitude of tribes, so there are festivals all through the year. Most festivals of Assam are very colourful. The Bihu is one of the most importantly celebrated festivals in Assam. The Bihu is celebrated as three kinds: Bohag or Rongali Bihu in the month of Apri, Bhogali or Magh Bihu in January and Kati or Kongali Bihu in October/November.
Rongali Bihu is celebrated by most tribes in Assam although the names and the colours used for costumes and celebrations differ slightly. Rongali Bihu signifies the festival of merrymaking and joy, since it heralds the beginning of a new year.
The Bihu Dance
The Rangali Bihu is the Assamese dance festival, also referred to as ‘Assamese life’. This dance form cuts across the different castes and religious within the Assamese community. The Bihu dance is a symbol of the exuberance and joy in the very aspect of living.
The dance begins with young men and women gathering in the open during day time and forming separate lines. The movements of this dance are characterised by brisk steps, flipping and flinging of hands and swaying of hips all of which represent the joy and freshness of the youth and the physical and mental urges of the young blood.
The musical accompaniment is aptly provided by the enthusiastic beats of the drums and blowing of pipes. The vocalist sings of love. The performers follow a certain pattern while dancing, which is either parallel rows or forming a circle. The traditional cosumes worn for the occasion include gamocha, dhoti, mekhala (Indian clothes) and chadar. The dance is common during the festival seasons in and around Guwahati and Assam.
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May 29th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I have always been an admirer of Indian art forms and this well-researched article has kindled my interest in this traditional Assamese dance form. I would certainly like to watch a live performance of this dance form after going thru this article-CONGRATS.