The eternal ethos and appeals of Assamese society propagated by Bihu Folk Songs.

Bihu folk songs and Bihu dance are the most youthful and fascinating parts of Bihu culture in Assamese nationalism. Bihu culture with its rich and colourful heritage is upholding the customary ethos of Assamese people through the ages. The present form of Bihu music was not as such at the time of its inception. Bihu music is a commonly adopted and practiced folk music of all the ethnic, religious and linguistic sections of the people of Assamese society. Assamese people with its Ostric and Mongoloid origin were spread over the entire Brahmaputra valley in fragments since the medieval age of Indian history. The primitive Bihu music was confined to those indigenous folks, who were exclusively dependent on agriculture and forest resources of Assam. With the advancement of time and growth in population structure, various ethnic groups (hills and plains) with their respective pictorial forms of music and cultural characteristics merged in a common cultural platform of the composite Assamese society. Thus, present shape of Bihu culture with the folk music has taken place as a result of prolonged contributions and concerted mission of various ethnic groups with different caste and creed at different times of history. Bihu music evolved gradually to the present amalgamated shape after it got the royal recognition from mighty Ahom king Rudra Singha in Ronghar Bakori of Sivsagar district of Assam, in thirteenth century. Looking further back to the history of ancient Assam, we find that a group of middle Asian inhabitants crossed the Himalayan ranges and came over to Gangetic Valley, several thousand years ago. They settled on the land where fertility was high, and the productions were plenty. They further intensified their habitations to the Brahmaputra valley of greater Assam. These people were identified to be of Ostric origin at a later stage. These people celebrated the harvest season with great festivity in which feasts were arranged in the corn fields, like the present-day picnic. Accordingly, beginning of the season of sowing paddy grains and plantations therefore is also celebrated with songs and gaiety throughout the state. These two festive seasons were perennially celebrated through centuries in Assam valley which was later named as Bihu to create the spirit of unity, integrity and harmony amongst people of different religious, linguistic and ethnic groups living in the same society. The songs and dances are arranged to depict the unique and colourful characteristics of each race with pomp and glory. A situation is thus created when everyone, young and old, in the society join with equal enthusiasm where their joys know no bounds