- बैसागु (Bwisagu):
Bwisagu, or (बैसागु) is one of the most popular seasonal festivals of the Bodos of Assam. The Bodos call this popular festival “Bwisagu”, which means the start of the new year. Bwisagu is a Boro word which originated from the word “Bwisa” that means “year” or “age” and “Agu” that means “starting” or “start”. This Bwisagu festival is observed at the beginning of the first month of the Boro year, around mid-April.
The characteristics of the Bwisagu festivals can be classified as follows:
- “Gwkha-Gwkhwi Janai” or eating bitter & sour-tasting wild vegetables on the day of Sankranti, or the day before the first day of the new year.
- “Mwsou thukhwinai” or bathing of cattle
- Worshipping gods and goddesses
- Worshipping ancestors
- Merry-making and enjoyment at the beginning of the new year.
Bwisagu, as observed by Kacharis, indicates the pattern which the festival follows over 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 Men but starts with worshiping 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, cattle rites, worship of Bathow and offering food to their ancestors, ruthoi of new and washed clothes, receiving and visiting relatives, friends, etc. may be said to constitute the formal part of the festival. Worshiping of Bathow is done on the second day of the festival. There is also the ceremo – eating cooked fowl with a bitter herb known as “Khungkha” or other wild vegetables with varied flavors. They also offer this to visitors.
(Courtesy: Wikipedia)