Bihu Dance
বিহু নাচ
No Bohag Bihu is complete without it — a fast, energetic folk dance performed to a specific set of instruments, rooted in courtship and the celebration of spring.
The Instruments
Bihu dance is inseparable from its music, carried by a small set of traditional instruments. The dhol, a double-headed drum, sets the tempo and plays almost continuously through a performance — in 2024 it earned its own Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its distinct craftsmanship. The pepa, a horn traditionally made from buffalo horn, carries the melody and is considered essential to the Bihu sound. The gogona, a bamboo jaw harp played by mouth, and the xutuli, a small clay or bamboo wind instrument shaped to mimic a bird's call, round out the ensemble, alongside the taal (cymbals) and toka (a bamboo clapper).
Costume & Style
Dancers perform in traditional dress — women in mekhela chador and riha, men in dhoti and gamosa (the traditional woven cloth) — and the dance itself is built on quick hip and hand movements, performed in groups, traditionally by young men and women together as part of Bohag Bihu's courtship customs.
What It Represents
At its root, Bihu dance is a celebration of spring and the start of the agricultural year, and historically doubled as a socially sanctioned space for young people to meet. Today it's performed at community Bihu functions across Assam and increasingly on stages well beyond the state, but its core form — the instruments, the rhythm, the dress — has stayed close to its village origins.
FAQ
What instruments are used in Bihu dance?
Mainly the dhol (drum), pepa (buffalo-horn wind instrument), gogona (bamboo jaw harp), xutuli, taal, and toka.
When is Bihu dance performed?
Chiefly during Bohag Bihu (the Assamese New Year, mid-April), though it's also performed at cultural events and functions throughout the year.
What do dancers wear for Bihu?
Women wear mekhela chador and riha; men wear dhoti and gamosa, the traditional woven Assamese cloth.