Assam welcomes the New Year with quieter celebrations, where tradition continues amid emotion, rain, and reflection
Guwahati: Bohag Bihu has arrived once again, draped in tender sunlight, new leaves, and the quiet promise of beginnings. Across Assam, homes prepare to welcome the New Year, yet beneath the rituals and rhythms, there lingers a softness this time, a pause that feels unfamiliar.
The festival begins with Goru Bihu, a tribute to cattle and the agrarian roots that shape the land. Soon after, the air begins to stir with dhul beats, Bihu geet, and the graceful movements of husori groups weaving through courtyards. On the surface, everything appears unchanged.
And yet, something is missing.
For many, Bohag Bihu feels incomplete without Zubeen Garg. His voice once defined the season, not just as music, but as emotion itself. This year, that presence returns only through memory. His songs still play, but they carry a different weight, one that blends celebration with longing. Several Bihu committees have quietly scaled down festivities or dedicated their programmes in his remembrance.
Adding to the subdued mood, unseasonal rain has slowed preparations, and a sense of fatigue lingers across communities. Yet, the spirit refuses to fade.“We may celebrate differently, but Bihu lives within us,” says a Bihu organiser.
In practice grounds and village lanes, young dancers continue to rehearse, guided by those who believe Bihu is more than a festival. “It is our identity. It must go on,” said a husori coordinator.
And so it does. Softer, slower, but still enduring. Bohag Bihu arrives not just as a celebration this year, but as remembrance, resilience, and the quiet strength of belonging.
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