How do Bohag Bihu Magh Bihu and Kati Bihu differ from one another?

Bihu is an umbrella term for three distinct festivals in Assam that mark different phases of the agricultural cycle. While all three are culturally significant, they differ in timing, tone, and purpose:12

• Bohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu): Celebrated in mid-April, this festival marks the Assamese New Year and the onset of spring. It is a joyous, seven-day celebration characterized by music, the traditional Bihu dance, and community festivities.132
• Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu): Observed in mid-January, this is a harvest festival marking the end of the harvest season. It is a time for feasting and community gatherings around bonfires (meji), celebrating the abundance of the year.123
• Kati Bihu (Kongali Bihu): Celebrated in mid-October, this festival occurs when rice saplings have been transplanted and granaries are typically empty. Because food supplies are low, it is a more somber, "poor" (kongali) occasion compared to the other two. Instead of large feasts, families light lamps (saki) near holy basil plants and in paddy fields to pray for a bountiful future harvest.123