Magh Bihu

Assamese festival

Also known as: Bhogali Bihu

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June 30, 2026

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Magh Bihu, also known as Bhogali Bihu, is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam, India, in mid-January. It marks the end of the harvest season and coincides with Makar Sankranti. The festival involves feasts, bonfires called meji, and traditional games like buffalo-fighting and egg fighting.1

Bihu is an umbrella term for three festivals in Assam: Bohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu), Kati Bihu (Kongali Bihu), and Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu). Each festival signifies a crucial stage in the agricultural cycle. Bohag Bihu celebrates the Assamese New Year and the arrival of spring with music and dance, while Kati Bihu is a more somber occasion focused on prayers for a good harvest.12

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Assam
Cultural life
The Magh Bihu, celebrated in mid-January (in the month of Magh), is a harvest festival. Known also as Bhogali Bihu (from bhog, meaning “enjoyment” and “feasting”), it is a time of community feasts and bonfires. The third Bihu festival, the Kati Bihu (in mid-October or November),…
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The Magh Bihu, celebrated in mid-January (in the month of Magh), is a harvest festival. Known also as Bhogali Bihu (from bhog, meaning “enjoyment” and “feasting”), it is a time of community feasts and bonfires. The third Bihu festival, the Kati Bihu (in mid-October or November),…
Read More