Right from the yearly fairs like Ambubachi Mela to Rangali Bihu festival, there are many fairs and festivals in Assam to speak of. The fact that Assam is a melting pot for varied races, religions, and cultures it is needless to mention that the Assam fairs and festivals have their roots in a varied number of faiths and beliefs. The spirit of togetherness is so well reflected by the fairs and festivals of Assam that one is often left mesmerized. So if you time your visit well, you can certainly be a part of some of the most popular fairs and festivals celebrated in Assam. Interestingly enough, all the fairs and festivals of Assam don’t have a strict and rigid communal or religious stringency and color. People from all religions, cast, and creed of life, wait for these occasions so that they can mingle into the creases of society and enjoy the fervor of the celebrations whole-heartedly.
The most important festivals of Assam are the Bihus, celebrated with joy and abundance by all Assamese people irrespective of caste, creed, religion, faith and belief. In a year there are three Bihu festivals known as Rongali, bhogali and Kangali. The most important and colourful of the three Bihu festival is the Spring festival "Bohag Bihu" or Rangali Bihu celebrated in the middle of April. This also initiates the agricultural season, and coincides with the Assamese new year. While Rongali Bihu is full of dances and songs and merriment, Bhogali Bihu is a harvest festival of community feasts and bonfire. During the modern times, Rangali Bihu has become a major urban festival, accompanied by competitive performance of folk songs, group dances, playing of drums and so on.
Though traditionally associated with the Bengalis, the people of Assam celebrate the four-day Durga Puja with much gaiety and fanfare as well.
The Ambubachi Mela of Kamakhya temple is the most important fair of Assam, and attracts pilgrims from all over India. Observed during June-July for four days, these days are considered the annual period of Mother Earth. The Shivaratri Mela of Shiva Doul in Sibsagar is another major fair which has been observed since the Ahom days.
