The Assam Baikhowa Festival | Rabha Traditional Festival

Baikhowa Festival 2025: The Baikhowa Festival is a traditional pre-harvest celebration observed by the Rabha community in Assam. Celebrated annually, this unique festival holds deep cultural significance and is one of the rare occasions where ancient rituals are still performed in their original form.

In this article, we explore the vibrant and sacred Baikho Festival- its origins, customs, and the enduring spirit of the Rabha people who keep this age-old tradition alive.

Table of Contents

What is Baikhowa Festival?

Aya Baikho Puja: A Sacred Tradition of the Rabha Community

The Baikhowa Festival, traditionally known as Aya Baikho Puja, is a deeply revered ritual observed by the Rabha community. The celebration begins with the village priest offering a pig and twelve cocks as part of the sacred rites. Following this, the priests and community members come together to seek blessings from their deities.

During the Puja, the Rabha people pray to thirteen gods and goddesses, invoking divine favor for a bountiful harvest, the well-being and educational progress of children, timely rainfall, abundant crops, and overall community health. They also pray for the removal of sickness, scarcity of water, misfortune, and all forms of evil ensuring harmony, prosperity, and protection for all.

Dress and Customs of Baikho Festival

During the Baikhowa Festival, members of the Rabha community proudly dress in their traditional attire, with both men and women showcasing the rich cultural heritage.

Male Costume	Female Costume
Pajar/Pajal-Dhoti Pachra-Shawl Fali-Handkerchief Buksil-Short sleeve shirt Khasne-Clothes worn on the head	Kambung-Chest cloths Khadabang-Headwear Boshil-Blous Patani-Daily use wrap-around Chengkanen-Protection clothes Dotari-Wore during Marriage at neck

Rituals Conducted During Baikho Festival

During the Baikho Festival, the Rabha community performs several important and unique rituals:

The priests offer a pig and 12 cocks to the gods as part of the sacred ceremony.
They then pray and ask for blessings from their 13 gods and goddesses.
A traditional game called Leuwa Bokai, a tug-of-war using a tree vine, is played.
The priests climb trees and act out a battle against evil spirits.
After “defeating” the evils, they burn figures of devils to show that bad things are gone.
One of the most powerful rituals is when the priests run barefoot over burning charcoal to show strength and faith.
During this act, the Bar Nak-Kai dance is performed, adding energy and meaning to the ritual.

Baikhowa Celebration in 2025

For the 2025 Baikho celebration, the locals of the village will gather on June 11 to celebrate the Baikho Festival. On this day, visitors can witness vibrant rituals, sacred traditions, joyful customs, and festive fun-reflecting all the rich cultural spirit of the Rabha community.

To honor the traditions of the Rabha community, the BTR Government has declared an holiday on the 11th June for the ocassion of Baikhowa Festival.