Kati Bihu is considered to be the onset of the winter season and is related to lack of food which is why it is also called the Kongali (poor) Bihu.
Kati Bihu 2021 Date
Kati Bihu is celebrated on the first day of the seventh month of the Assamese calendar, Kati. This year the auspicious festival will be observed on October 19.
Assam holds three Bihu festivals every year: Bhogali or Magh Bihu in January, Bohag or Rongali Bihu in April, and Kati or Kongali Bihu is celebrated in the month of October.
All three festivals are a celebration of agriculture. The first two observe the dates of the harvest season. Kati Bihu marks the time of relocation of the rice sapling, where Kati means “cut”.
During this time in October, the granaries are usually not filled and there is nothing much to eat so this Bihu is also called Kongali, which means “poor”. Therefore, this festival is not something that is celebrated with grandeur like the other two.
Kati Bihu History & Significance
Kati Bihu is a celebration of solemnity because of food scarcity during this month. Since Assam is basically an agricultural state, and rice is their staple food, the festival of Bihu is celebrated among every Assamese community. Kati Bihu is celebrated in a more somber way as compared to its counterparts Magh Bihu and Rongali Bihu.
Magh Bihu is considered to be the festival of good harvest, Rongali Bihu is the festival of sowing. But Kati Bihu is the festival of crop protection and worshipping of plants and crops.
How is Kati Bihu Celebrated?
On Kati Bihu, people worship the tulsi plant and light earthen lamps in front of it. They also light the lamps in front of the granaries, the garden, and pray for a good harvest by lighting lamps in the paddy fields as well. The lamp holds a very special significance, it is known as ‘Akash Banti’ and is tied to the poles which are placed in the paddy field.
To protect the paddy fields from pests and evil eyes, the farmers rotate a bamboo piece and recite spells. They feed ‘Pithas’ to cattle that are basically ground rice with sweets. It is believed that on this night, the spirits of the dead transcend to the land of heaven and those lamps show them the way.
During the whole month of Kati, Assamese plant the tulsi tree in their gardens and worship it with an earthen lamp. This festival is celebrated worldwide in every Assamese community.
Kati Bihu Facts
- The word Bihu has been taken from the Deori word ‘Busu’, which means “excessive joy”.
- The term ‘Bapoti Xahun’ was termed by Rajanikanta Bordoloi and he was the first one to declare the national festival of Assam as Bihu in his writings.
- The first Assamese film that features Bihu was directed by Nip Baruah and was named ‘Smritir Porosh’ (1956)
- Bihu Dance was evolved by Kolimoti of Kesaikhati Gukhani Thaan.
- There is a mention of Bihu in a 1401 AD copperplate inscription, during the reign of king Lakshminarayan.
- Rongali Bihu celebrates the seven days as: Chot Bihu, Goru Bihu, Manuah Bihu, Kutum Bihu, Senehi Bihu, Mela Bihu, and Chera Bihu.
- The dhol tradition is considered older than Bihu by four eras, as said by Somnath Bora.
