Kati Bihu: Assam Celebrates the Festival Marking the Harvest Season’s Beginning

Guwahati, 18th October: Kati Bihu, an eagerly anticipated annual festival that signifies the commencement of the new harvest season, is being celebrated on October 18 this year. Falling on the first day of the Kati month in the Assamese calendar, which usually falls in mid-October, the festival is observed with great enthusiasm across Assam.

Kati Bihu holds a special place as it symbolizes the transplantation of rice crops, a pivotal moment in the agricultural calendar. Homes are adorned with lit lamps, creating a beautiful ambiance, and bamboo pathways are constructed to honor the ancestors.

One of the significant rituals of Kati Bihu is the purification and placement of the tulsi plant on a platform known as Tulsi Bheti. Families make offerings and offer prayers for their well-being and for a bountiful harvest. In the vast paddy fields, a special lamp known as ‘Akash Banti’ or Sky Candle is lit. These mustard oil lamps are mounted on bamboo poles and are believed to guide the departed souls of ancestors. All three Bihu festivals in Assam have strong agricultural significance and correspond to different stages in the farming cycle. Kati Bihu, also known as Kongali Bihu, coincides with the transplantation of rice seedlings.

Kati Bihu is a reflection of Assam’s rich cultural heritage deeply rooted in agriculture and spirituality. It serves as a reminder to the people of their enduring connection to the land and their responsibility to nurture and safeguard it.

The tradition of lighting lamps during Kati Bihu symbolizes hope and guidance, signifying the continuity of life and traditions. The term “Kongali Bihu” alludes to the typically empty granaries and the scarcity of resources during this time of the year. In response to the darkness and hardships, lamps or candles are lit throughout households, with a central lamp positioned near the sacred Tulsi plant, representing a beacon of hope.

Kati Bihu, with its blend of traditions, spirituality, and the essence of Assam’s agrarian life, continues to be a cherished festival that connects people with their cultural roots and the land that sustains them.

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