We say it often, and we’ll say it again—Assam is a treasure trove of culture, history, and beauty. Now in the global spotlight, ranked 4th on the New York Times’ list of ‘Places to Go in 2025,’ Assam offers something for everyone—nature lovers, history buffs, and adventure seekers alike.
One of the best ways to experience Assam’s rich traditions is through its vibrant festivals. With spring around the corner, what better time to kickstart your exploration than by immersing yourself in the state’s spring harvest festivals? These festivals celebrate Assam’s agricultural roots, heritage, and community spirit, honoring traditions passed down through generations.
In this guide, we explore the major spring festivals of Assam.
When one thinks of festivals in Assam, Bihu is the first to come to mind. Celebrated with great enthusiasm by all Assamese people, Bihu occurs three times a year to mark different phases of the harvest. In mid-April, we celebrate Bohag Bihu, also known as Rongali Bihu, which marks the Assamese New Year and the onset of the agricultural season.
Bohag Bihu is an important festival for the Assamese people, rooted in the spirit of renewal and the joy of welcoming the New Year. It is also a celebration of community, as families come together to express gratitude to the soil for its abundance and pray for a prosperous harvest.
The state comes alive in celebration of Bihu. The aroma of jaggery fills the air as pithas are cooked with fervor, and people rejoice with traditional Bihu dance and songs, expressing gratitude. On the first day, known as Goru Bihu, you might even spot cattle being bathed and worshipped, as they hold great significance to the people of Assam.
The first Wednesday of February is celebrated as Ali-Ai-Ligang by the Mising tribe of Upper Assam. The name itself holds meaning—Ali refers to roots or seeds, Ai means fruit, and Ligang signifies sowing. Deeply rooted in the agrarian culture of the community, this festival marks the beginning of the sowing season for Ahu rice paddy. It is a time to pray for a bountiful harvest and to honor the land for its abundant blessings. During this sacred period, activities like plowing and cutting trees are prohibited to preserve the sanctity of the season.
The festival comes alive with vibrant traditional dances like Gumrag Soman and the melodious tunes of folk songs called Oi Nitom. The joy is shared with others, culminating in a grand community feast called Lilen, where delicacies made with rice, pork, and fish celebrate the spirit of gratitude and togetherness.
Baishagu is another vibrant harvest festival celebrated in Assam, primarily by the Bodo tribe. This festival marks their New Year and the arrival of spring, symbolizing the interdependence of life, nature, and the strength of community bonds.
Prayers are offered to the deity Bathou for peace and prosperity, through the significant ritual of Bathou Puja, performed under the sacred Siju or Euphorbia plant. Traditional music, communal gatherings, and folk dances play a vital role in the celebrations, with young people taking center stage, performing folk dance to the rhythmic beats of traditional instruments.
The Tiwa tribes celebrate the Sogra festival between March and April in the West Karbi Anglong district of Assam and parts of the Ri-Bhoi district in Meghalaya. There are several legends surrounding the origin of its name, some believe it comes from an orphan boy named Majibor Sagra.
This tribal celebration pays homage to the Tiwa community’s agrarian roots, a way to honor the gods for a bountiful harvest. The village priest, or “Loro,” performs the sacred ritual of “Mindai Lekhewa,” invoking deities and recounting stories from the past. Traditional music and dance are central to the festivities, showcasing the tribe’s rich cultural heritage and culminating in communal feasting—a true celebration of unity and gratitude.
Rongker is a religious festival celebrated by the Karbi tribe in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Held after the harvest season, this festival expresses gratitude to the gods while praying for a successful harvest and protection from evil spirits and disease in the coming year. Rongker is also dedicated to appeasing the gods and spirits of the forests, rivers, and hills, emphasizing the community’s reverence for nature.
The festival is organized by villages through mutual consensus, with dates varying depending on the community. It is typically held after the rice harvest or at the beginning of the Karbi New Year.
Celebrations feature traditional music, dance, and feasting. Rituals include sacrificial offerings to the gods and spirits, as well as the creation of earthen altars named after various deities, symbolizing the tribe’s deep spiritual connection to their land and traditions.
Harvest Spring festivals in Assam are a beautiful reflection of traditions rooted in agriculture and communal spirit. Each celebration, from the statewide exuberance of Bohag Bihu to the unique customs of Ali-Ai-Ligang, Baishagu, and Sogra, offers a glimpse into the diverse cultural tapestry of Assam. These festivals not only preserve the rich heritage of the state but also provide an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to come together in celebration of life and nature. If you ever find yourself in Assam during spring, immerse yourself in these vibrant festivities to experience the true essence of this enchanting land.
Bohag Bihu, or Rongali Bihu, marks the Assamese New Year and the onset of the agricultural season. It is a time of joy and merriment, celebrated with traditional dances, songs, and feasts, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Assam.
The Mising tribe celebrates Ali-Ai-Ligang by performing traditional dances like Gumrag Soman and singing folk songs called Oi Nitom. The festival culminates in a community feast known as Lilen, featuring traditional dishes made from rice, pork, and fish.
During Baishagu, the Bodo tribe worships Bathou, the supreme deity, under the sacred Siju plant. The festival includes traditional music, communal gatherings, and folk dances performed by the youth.
The Sogra Festival is celebrated by the Tiwa tribes between March and April in the West Karbi Anglong district of Assam and parts of the Ri-Bhoi district in Meghalaya. It is a celebration of gratitude for a bountiful harvest.
All these festivals celebrate the agricultural heritage of Assam, marking the onset of the sowing or harvesting seasons. They involve community gatherings, traditional music and dance, and feasts, reflecting gratitude towards nature and reinforcing social bonds.
These festivals offer a glimpse into Assam’s rich cultural tapestry, showcasing the state’s deep-rooted traditions and communal harmony.
