Goru Bihu marks the start of the Rongali Bihu festivities in Assam

Goru Bihu, which is observed on the first day of the seven-day-long Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu, is celebrated throughout Assam, stated The Sentinel.

It falls on the final day of the month of Chot, which is the last month of the Assamese calendar, just before the arrival of Bohag, the first month.

The following day marks the onset of Bohag and the commencement of the new year as per the Assamese calendar.

The day is celebrated as Goru Bihu and due respects is paid to the livestock of the household, especially cattle with traditional gaiety.

The cattle are taken by their owners to nearby rivers or ponds and given a proper bath in the same. They are also smeared with pastes of black lentils and fresh turmeric.

On Goru Bihu, the leaves of dighalati (litsea salicifolia) and makhioti (flemingia strobilifera) are applied on the skin of the livestock to prevent infections and flies.

Moreover, the animals are fed a mix of local vegetables, such as bottle gourd and eggplant, to ensure their healthy growth. Old ropes used for tying the livestock are replaced with new ones on this day.

The celebration of Goru Bihu was observed across all corners of Assam on Friday. In the Nagaon District, members of the Kanyaka Multi-purpose Farm in Jamugurihat were spotted bathing their cows on the banks of the Bharali River in accordance with the traditional customs of Goru Bihu.

Similarly, in Biwanath, the members of the Lakshmi Agriculture Multipurpose Project performed the customary rituals.