Framing the festive cheer of Bihu in Assam

Using nostalgia as their guide, illustrators in Assam recreate Bihu customs to strike a happy chord

When it is time for Bohag or Rongali Bihu, Assam dons a festive look. The sound of the dhol (drum) and pepa (wind instrument) fills the air. As households get busy preparing pitha, almost every shopping discussion is about fresh til (sesame), gur (jaggery), good coconut and the best quality of sticky rice. This is also the time of the year when non-resident Assamese return to participate in the festival, which transcends religion and ethnicity. The pandemic has dampened spirits and spread a veil of gloom on all festivities, including Bihu. Undeterred, illustrators from Assam are compensating for the loss with illustrations fuelled by nostalgia. The illustrations also introduce children to customs such as the presentation of the Bihuwan, a beautiful handmade Assamese gamusa or a hand-stitched handkerchief to a secret admirer.