How I celebrate Rongali Bihu

Rongali Bihu is about celebration — music, dancing, new clothes, gatherings.

But growing up, what I remember most is the morning. The quiet rituals before the day really begins. The ones that don’t always get spoken about, but are carried forward anyway.

Starting the Day: Bitter Before Sweet

We would begin the day with something unusual.

A couple of neem leaves, and a few soaked masoor dal— not something you would normally choose to eat first thing in the morning. The bitter neem leaves, swallowed not chewed, accompanied by a great deal of protest by a young me.

And then, immediately after, something sweet: a 'dessert' of mashed ripe bananas, honey, ghee, dahi and a few grains of soaked & crushed rice.

This balance — bitter followed by sweet — is intentional.

In many traditional practices, neem is known for its cleansing and medicinal properties, especially with the change of seasons. It’s a way of preparing the body for the year ahead. And then comes the sweetness — a quiet reminder of abundance, of hope, of what you wish the year to hold.

The Ritual Bath

Before the celebrations begin, there’s the bath.

Not rushed, not functional — but part of the ritual.

We would use:

• haldi and black masoor dal paste on the body
• and just black masoor paste in the hair

It sounds simple, but it’s deeply rooted in older ways of living — using what is available, natural, and effective.

These ingredients:

• gently exfoliate
• cleanse the skin
• and mark a physical reset, just as the season changes

It’s not just about cleanliness. It’s about starting fresh.

The Gamusa, Woven at Home

And then, something I didn’t fully understand the value of at the time.

My grandmother — or technically, my grand-aunt — would weave us gamusas on a handloom.

Not bought. Not sourced. Made. By hand.

We would use these for our first bath of the new year.

Where These Traditions Come From

Bihu, especially Rongali Bihu, is deeply tied to the agricultural cycle — marking the Assamese New Year and the beginning of spring.

Many of these rituals reflect that:

• cleansing the body
• preparing for a new season
• marking transition from old to new

Even the use of turmeric and pulses in traditional practices can be traced back to their protective and nourishing qualities, not just culturally but practically.

These weren’t random rituals. They were shaped by:

• climate
• land
• everyday life

Gathering Around Food

After the morning rituals, we would head to my grandmother’s house.

Lunch was always simple, vegetarian, and comforting — jackfruit curry, lusi, and aloo dom.

It felt like the day slowly opened up from there. From quiet rituals in the morning to a home full of food, people, and conversation.

And then, of course, there were the ladus and pithas.

So many kinds, prepared in the days leading up to Bihu. The children would wait expectantly around the womenfolk cooking and chatting hoping we would get samples.

What Stays With You

At the time, none of this felt particularly significant.

It was just… what we did.

Eat this. Apply this. Use this towel.

No one really explained why.

But now, looking back, it feels like a very complete way to begin a year:

• cleanse
• reset
• nourish
• and then step into celebration

A Different Kind of Beginning

Bihu mornings weren’t loud.

They were quiet, intentional, almost grounding — before the day unfolded into something more vibrant.

And maybe that’s what stays with you.

Not just the celebration, but the way it began.

Happy Bihu to everyone. It's spring!