113th Suwori Bihu Festival in Assam Boko: Horse, elephant races and folk performances

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 22, 2025

The vibrant 113th edition of the Annual Suwori Bihu Festival was celebrated with great enthusiasm on Sunday at Suwori Field in Boko, Kamrup district. Drawing hundreds of people from across Assam, the festival marked the 7th day of Rongali Bihu with a stunning showcase of traditional sports, cultural performances, and ethnic unity.

Located at the southern edge of Kamrup, Boko is a cultural crossroads home to indigenous communities including the Rabha, Bodo, Garo, Gorkha, and Koch-Rajbongshi, among others. The Suwori festival is an embodiment of this diversity, bringing together various traditions in a single celebration of heritage.

The highlights of the festival were the traditional horse race, elephant race, and tug of war, which attracted large crowds and enthusiastic participants. Other competitions like the oiled bamboo climb and 100-meter dash for boys and girls added to the excitement.

Two unique folk traditions took center stage—‘Hana Ghora’ and ‘Paro Bah’—steeped in mythology and regional lore.

Festival organizer Gauranga Choudhary explained the legend of Hana Ghora, a dance that traces its origins to a tale where Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali are believed to have visited the region. “The Hanas (Garos) created a bamboo horse wrapped in cloth to represent the divine visitors, and this evolved into the Hana Ghora dance. It is performed with spades and drums and always includes two armed guards. Before the dance, offerings such as chicken, wine, eggs, vermillion, and mustard oil are made to the goddess,” Choudhary said.

Paro Bah, he added, is the symbolic sister of Hana Ghora and is constructed using a long bamboo wrapped in colourful cloth. She, too, goes from house to house after ritual offerings, extending blessings to each household.

The cultural showcase also included traditional dances like Rabha’s Farkanti and Bogejari, Bodo’s Dhwimali, Garo’s Wangala, Koch-Rajbongshi, and Gorkhali dances. Attendees were treated to live performances of Bihu dance, creating a festive and unifying atmosphere.

Among the dignitaries present were Dr. Kamala Kanta Kalita, Chairman of the Assam Khadi and Village Industry Board, former Boko MLA Jyoti Prasad Das, and members of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council including Sumit Rabha and Arjun Chetry. They praised the event for keeping indigenous traditions alive and fostering communal harmony.

With its rich blend of mythology, ritual, and performance, the Suwori Bihu Festival remains a vital thread in the cultural fabric of Assam—celebrating not just the new year, but the deep-rooted heritage of its people.