Bihu is a well-known festival that ushers in the Assamese New Year and the beginning of the agricultural season is celebrated in the month of April. It has great cultural meaning and represents happiness, harmony, and fresh starts. Expressing their traditions through their music and dance.
A wide range of traditional Assamese cuisines, including doi chira (curd with flattened rice), pitha (rice cakes), laru (sweet balls), and treats made with seasonal ingredients like bamboo shoots and banana flowers, are prepared and consumed during Bihu. These dishes stand for wealth, plenty, and the communal spirit of the Bihu celebrations.
Here is a list of dishes to serve in Bohag Bihu:
1. Ghila Pitha:
A traditional rice cake from Assam called Ghila Pitha is made during Bohag Bihu, or Rongali Bihu, the Assamese New Year. Rice is soaked for the entire preparation process, ground into a coarse paste, and combined with sugar, jaggery, grated coconut, and occasionally cardamom for flavour. Once formed into small round patties, the mixture is deep-fried till golden brown. Ghila Pitha is a very significant symbol at Bohag Bihu, representing the abundant harvest season and a wish for luck, wealth, and joy in the upcoming year.
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2. Omita Khar:
A customary dish made and enjoyed during Bohag Bihu in Assam is called "Omita Khar" where omita means raw papaya and khar is a alkaline liquid. Because it represents the essence of Assamese food and heritage, it has cultural significance. Raw papaya is used to make omita khar, which is then boiled in khar (alkaline) water and flavoured with mustard oil, green chillies, and occasionally grated coconut. It is an essential component of the celebratory feasts held at Bohag Bihu, emphasising the use of locally sourced foods and long-standing, traditional cooking techniques.
3. Masor Tenga:
A traditional Assamese fish stew called Masor Tenga is very important during Bohag Bihu, which is also called Rongali Bihu in Assam. Freshwater fish, such as rohu or catfish, are used to make the dish. Tangy ingredients, such as tomatoes, lemon juice, and ou tenga, or elephant apple, are added to the curry. To make a tasty and tart gravy, the meal is prepared with spices such as green chillies, ginger, and turmeric. A feature of Bihu celebrations, Masor Tenga represents the prosperity of Assamese agriculture and fisheries.
4. Payox:
Payox, sometimes referred to as Payasam or Kheer, is a customary Assamese dessert prepared at Bohag Bihu. Rice, milk, sugar, and sometimes cardamom, saffron, or almonds are used to make this creamy, delicious treat. Payox is very significant at Bihu because it represents wealth, joy, and unity. During the joyous festivities, families gather to cook and savour this delectable dessert, which they then share with loved ones as a token of gratitude.
5. Til Pitha:
Boasting of therich Assamese cultural heritage, during the Assamese celebration of Bohag Bihu called Rongali Bihu, Til Pitha is routinely served as a snack in this culture. It is a soft but crunchy, rice-flour based dessert that uses jaggery as the sweetener, and then seeds of toasted black sesame are used as the filling. The sesame filling is rolled the rice flour. Til Pitha is an inevitable part of Bohag Bihu because it empowers the happy mood of the festive season by representing any kind of joy, wealth, or salubrious harvest.
6. Narikol Ladoo:
The popular Assamese dessert narikol ladoo, also called coconut ladoo, is made and consumed frequently during the Bohag Bihu celebration. Freshly grated coconut, sugar, and occasionally cardamom powder are used to make these ladoos. The grated coconut is cooked with sugar until a thick consistency develops, and then it is formed into spherical balls. Narikol Ladoos are an essential component of the joyous festivities in Assam during Bohag Bihu because they stand for sweetness, prosperity, and happiness.
7. Bamboo Shoot Fry:
An Assamese dish that is used to celebrate Bihu is bamboo shoot fry. The green stems are chopped into thin slices and marinated for some time in salty turmeric and mustard oil, which facilitates the crispy deep-fried outcome. The specific taste and texture of the Bamboo Shoot Fry are quite liked by people; it has a crispness and subtle earthiness that complements the happiness filled by the family when the Bohag Bihu is celebrated.
8. Sagolir Mankho:
During Bohag Bihu, the Assamese New Year festival, a traditional meal called sagolir mankho, or mutton curry, is made. It is a significant symbol of wealth and prosperity in Assamese food and culture. The recipe includes marinating tender mutton pieces in a mixture of spices and cooking them till delicious and tender. It's typically eaten with pita, a traditional Assamese bread, or rice. Sagolir Mankho is a favourite among the natives on festival occasions like Bohag Bihu and symbolises the rich culinary tradition of Assam.
9. Duck With Black Sesame:
In Assam, duck with black sesame is a traditional dish that's commonly made at Bohag Bihu. Duck parts are marinated in a mixture of spices, including turmeric, ginger, and garlic, and then cooked in a thick sauce infused with black sesame paste. The meal gains a nutty, fragrant flavour from the sesame. During Bohag Bihu festivities, duck with black sesame is regarded as a delicacy and represents wealth and success. It is frequently eaten with luchi or pitha, two types of traditional Assamese bread, or with steamed rice.