Guwahati: Farmers across Assam are observing Kati Bihu, a somber agricultural festival marking the paddy growth season. Families are performing long-standing rituals to secure their harvest and ensure household prosperity. The atmosphere remains subdued, reflecting the uncertainty farmers feel while they wait for the crops to ripen.
People of all ages are taking part in the customs. A primary celebration is unfolding at the Borbhakati-Sonari fields in Kaliabor. The event is hosted by the Kaliabor Legislative Assembly constituency unit of the Asom Krishak Parishad, the farmers wing of the Asom Gana Parishad. Assam Minister Keshab Mahanta is in attendance to mark the occasion.
Devotees are lighting earthen lamps near sacred Tulsi plants in their courtyards. These prayers focus on the well-being and happiness of their homes. Farmers are also raising tall bamboo poles in their fields to hold Akash Banti, or sky lamps. This ancient practice honors ancestors and seeks divine protection for the standing crops. As the tradition goes, "the sky lamps also symbolise prayers for the protection of crops from harm and misfortune."
Also known as Kongali Bihu, the festival occurs during the Assamese month of Kati. It stands in contrast to the high-energy celebrations of Bohag Bihu or the harvest-focused events of Magh Bihu. This day binds the community to its agrarian roots, ancestral heritage, and faith in the land.
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