Bwisagu
Encyclopedia
Bwisagu is one of the most popular seasonal festival of the Bodos of Assam
. In Assamese language
it is called as Bihu
. The Bodos call this popular festival as Baisagu, which means the start of the new year. Baisagu is a Boro word which originated from the word "Baisa" which means year or age, ang "Agu" that means starting or start. Hence, Baisagu, the starting time of the year or age. This Baisagu festival is observed at the starting part of the first month of the Bengali
year(first week of the month of Baisakh or Bohag).
Bwisagu, as observed by Kacharis indicates the pattern which the festival follows over the several days. The first day is for the "Makhau" or "Mashau" meant for cattle
; on which the cows are bathed in the river. The second day is meant for the "Mansi" or for Men' but starting with worship me their gods; the third day is for "Saima" meant for dogs; the fourth day is for "Oma" meant for swine; the fifth day is for "Dao", or meant for fowl
; the sixth for duck
and other birds; the seventh is meant for receiving relatives and friends.
House cleaning, battle rites, worship of Bathou
and offering me eatables to their ancestors, ruthoi on of new and washed clothes, receiving and visiting relatives, friends etc, may be said to constitute the formal part of the festival. Worshiping of Bathou
is done on the second day of the festival. There is also the ceremo eating me fowl cooked with bitter herb known as "Khungkha" or other wild vegetables me different taste. They offer it to the visitors also.
Merry making is the integral part of this Bodo Festival. Music and dance become a regular feature. Young men play on the "Siphung"(flute), "Kham"(drum), the four stringed "Serjã", and beat out rhythm with a piece of split bamboo
called "Thãrkhã", girls dance in bands and play on the jew's harp called "Gongonã" and small cymbals called "jotha".
and brinjals. Before taking them off the cowshed the owner pays respects to them.
While leading the cows to the river for bathing the cow herds sings the songs beating them lightly with the "Dighalati" plant.
After taking away the cows from the cow shed the cow dungs are thrown away and the shed is cleaned. The old ropes(phaga) are replaced by new ones.
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
. In Assamese language
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
it is called as Bihu
Bihu
Bihu denotes a set of three different cultural festivals of Assam and celebrated by the Assamese diaspora around the world. Though they owe their origins to ancient rites and practices they have taken definite urban features and have become popular festivals in urban and commercialized milieus in...
. The Bodos call this popular festival as Baisagu, which means the start of the new year. Baisagu is a Boro word which originated from the word "Baisa" which means year or age, ang "Agu" that means starting or start. Hence, Baisagu, the starting time of the year or age. This Baisagu festival is observed at the starting part of the first month of the Bengali
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
year(first week of the month of Baisakh or Bohag).
Characteristics
The characteristics of the Bwisagu festivals can be classified as follows:- 'Gokha-Gokhoi Janai' or eating bitter and sour tasted wild vegetables on the day of SankrantiSankrantiSankranthi means transmigration of Sun from one Rāshi to the other. Hence there are 12 such Sankrantis in all.* Makara Sankaranti: or Sankranti or Sankranthi marks the transition of...
or the day before the first day of the new year. - Bathing of cattle or "Masou thukhoinai"
- Worshiping the gods and goddesses
- Worshiping the ancestors
- Merry-making and enjoyment at the entrance of the New year.
Bwisagu, as observed by Kacharis indicates the pattern which the festival follows over the several days. The first day is for the "Makhau" or "Mashau" meant for cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
; on which the cows are bathed in the river. The second day is meant for the "Mansi" or for Men' but starting with worship me their gods; the third day is for "Saima" meant for dogs; the fourth day is for "Oma" meant for swine; the fifth day is for "Dao", or meant for fowl
Fowl
Fowl is a word for birds in general but usually refers to birds belonging to one of two biological orders, namely the gamefowl or landfowl and the waterfowl...
; the sixth for duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
and other birds; the seventh is meant for receiving relatives and friends.
House cleaning, battle rites, worship of Bathou
Bathou
Bathou, also spelt Bathu, is a village of Attock District in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. It is located at 33°42'33N 72°31'36E with an altitude of 366 metres ....
and offering me eatables to their ancestors, ruthoi on of new and washed clothes, receiving and visiting relatives, friends etc, may be said to constitute the formal part of the festival. Worshiping of Bathou
Bathou
Bathou, also spelt Bathu, is a village of Attock District in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. It is located at 33°42'33N 72°31'36E with an altitude of 366 metres ....
is done on the second day of the festival. There is also the ceremo eating me fowl cooked with bitter herb known as "Khungkha" or other wild vegetables me different taste. They offer it to the visitors also.
Merry making is the integral part of this Bodo Festival. Music and dance become a regular feature. Young men play on the "Siphung"(flute), "Kham"(drum), the four stringed "Serjã", and beat out rhythm with a piece of split bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
called "Thãrkhã", girls dance in bands and play on the jew's harp called "Gongonã" and small cymbals called "jotha".
Rites performed during Bwisãgu
The Bodos perform certain rites on the occasion me the Bwisãgu festival.- To destroy the eggs of the snakes they produce a particular tune on the flute, the tune is called "Santravali". The snakes community is believed by the Bodos to be the foe of the human beings and all other creatures, and anni-hillation of snakes is considered an act me general welfare.
- Perform pujas to the deities.
- Worship to their ancestors
- Bid farewell to the old year.
- Pay respect to the Gurus and elderly persons.
- Exchange Love and Affection.
- Dance and Sing songs.
- Worship me god(Burãh Bãthou Mahãrãjã) with hope of more and more production and growth me cultivation.
- On the seventh day bid farewell to "Bwisagu"
Cattle Rites during Bwisãgu
The last date of the month of Chaitra is called by the Bodos as the Bwisâgu for the cows or cattle. On that day the Bodos leads the cattle to the tank or the river for bathing. Before taking to the river or tank the cattles are offered paddy and horns and hooves are smeared with mustard oil. The body of the cow is routed with black marking with a mixture prepared from black ashes and mustard oil, using the stem of the Eri tree as the marker. The cows are also garlanded with the garlands made of gourdGourd
A gourd is a plant of the family Cucurbitaceae. Gourd is occasionally used to describe crops like cucumbers, squash, luffas, and melons. The term 'gourd' however, can more specifically, refer to the plants of the two Cucurbitaceae genera Lagenaria and Cucurbita or also to their hollow dried out shell...
and brinjals. Before taking them off the cowshed the owner pays respects to them.
While leading the cows to the river for bathing the cow herds sings the songs beating them lightly with the "Dighalati" plant.
After taking away the cows from the cow shed the cow dungs are thrown away and the shed is cleaned. The old ropes(phaga) are replaced by new ones.