Assam Lights Up for Kati Bihu Celebration!
On 18 October 2026, families across Assam celebrated Kati Bihu with glowing earthen lamps, prayers for crops, and an exciting bird count.
On Sunday, 18 October 2026, lush green fields and courtyards across Assam glowed warmly with tiny earthen flames. Families gathered together to observe the peaceful Kati Bihu celebration, an important agrarian festival dedicated to nature and the hope of a bountiful future harvest.
Unlike other big festivals that feature loud music and lavish feasts, this special day is marked by quiet reflection, simplicity, and heartfelt prayers. People across the state ask for good health, prosperity, and protection for their young paddy plants during this calm season.
What happened?
Kati Bihu, which is also known as Kongali Bihu, is one of the three major Bihu festivals celebrated in Assam. While Rongali Bihu arrives in the spring and Bhogali Bihu brings grand winter feasts, Kati Bihu takes place during the Assamese month of Kati. At this time of the year, granaries where grain is stored are relatively lean, and rice crops are still growing in the soil.
As dusk fell, families lit traditional earthen oil lamps, called sakis, outside their homes. They placed these gentle lights at the base of sacred Tulsi plants, which stand on raised earthen platforms known as Tulsi Bheti in their courtyards. Both children and elders joined their hands in prayer, asking for healthy plants and an abundant yield.
Out in the agricultural fields, farmers erected tall bamboo poles and lit special sky lamps called Akash Banti right in the middle of their farmland. While cultural beliefs hold that these elevated lights guide ancestral spirits, they also perform an ingenious scientific job. The glowing flame naturally attracts and destroys nocturnal insects and pests that fly around in the dark to eat the tender young rice crops.
Community leaders and ministers also joined local citizens for the rituals. In Kaliabor, a central observance was held at the Borbhakati-Sonari fields, organised by the Asom Krishak Parishad and attended by Assam Minister Keshab Mahanta. In Bokakhat, Assam Cabinet Minister Atul Bora joined farmers and local residents at Mahura Pathar.
Warm greetings poured in across the state as Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared their best wishes with citizens, praying for good health, prosperity, and a successful harvest for every farmer. Along with these rituals, nature enthusiasts took part in the statewide Kati Bihu Bird Count, organised by the Assam Bird Monitoring Network from 17 October to 20 October 2026.
Why does it matter to you?
Festivals across India are not just about holidays from school or sharing sweets. Celebrations like Kati Bihu show us how closely human lives are connected to the earth, the weather, and the cycle of growing our food.
This special day also teaches us how ancient traditions used smart science to care for the environment. Long before modern machines or chemical sprays were invented, farmers used simple oil lamps on bamboo poles to protect their crops naturally without harming the soil. Learning about these traditions helps you appreciate how Indian culture respects and protects nature.
Words to know
- Agrarian: connected to farming, growing crops, or agricultural land.
- Granary: a special storehouse built to keep harvested grain dry and safe.
- Nocturnal: active mainly during the dark hours of the night.
- Saki: a traditional Assamese earthen oil lamp made of clay.
- Tulsi Bheti: a raised earthen platform where a sacred Tulsi plant is grown.
Did you know?
Assam celebrates three distinct Bihu festivals throughout the year! Rongali Bihu welcomes the arrival of spring with energetic dances, Bhogali Bihu celebrates the winter harvest with community feasts, and Kati Bihu brings quiet prayers while the young crops are still growing.
Think about it
Why do you think ancient farmers combined cultural rituals with clever pest-control ideas like sky lamps? What is another festival in your region that teaches us to care for nature and living creatures?
Quick quiz
What is the name of the sky lamps placed on tall bamboo poles in the fields during Kati Bihu?
- Akash Banti
- Tulsi Bheti
- Bhogali
See the answer
Akash Banti
Sources
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
