Assam observes Kati Bihu, farmers light earthen lamps for prosperity and crop protection

Assam is observing Kati Bihu, one of its traditional agricultural festivals, with families across rural areas performing rituals associated with the occasion and preserving customs passed down through generations.

People across age groups, from children to the elderly, are participating in the rituals, with traditional practices centred on prayers for household well-being, prosperity and the protection of standing crops.

A central celebration is being held at the Borbhakati-Sonari fields in Kaliabor, organised by the Kaliabor Legislative Assembly constituency unit of the Asom Krishak Parishad, the farmers’ wing of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). Assam Minister Keshab Mahanta is participating in the event.

One of the key rituals associated with Kati Bihu is the lighting of earthen lamps beneath the sacred Tulsi plant. In the evening, families light lamps in front of Tulsi altars in their courtyards and offer prayers for the happiness, well-being and prosperity of their households.

Another important tradition is the lighting of Akash Banti, or sky lamps, atop tall bamboo poles in agricultural fields. The practice is rooted in local beliefs and is associated with paying homage to the souls of ancestors.

According to traditional beliefs, the sky lamps also symbolise prayers for the protection of crops from harm and misfortune.

Kati Bihu, also known as Kongali Bihu, is observed during the Assamese month of Kati, when paddy crops are growing in the fields and farmers await the harvest. Unlike the more festive Bohag Bihu and the harvest-centred Magh Bihu, Kati Bihu is traditionally marked by a subdued observance, reflecting the uncertainties of the agricultural season.

The festival continues to serve as an expression of Assam’s agrarian traditions, with communities maintaining rituals that connect agricultural life, ancestral beliefs and household worship.