Huchori, a regular feature during the
Rongali Bihu, is a custom of community singing in which a group of singers visit each home in their locality and sing songs containing spiritual and moral values. The group comprises only of men and the event coincides with the Assamese New Year. The group visits every house irrespective of caste, creed and social status of the householder. During the reign of the
Ahom dynasty, Huchori singing was a usual custom in the royal palaces. At a later period it began to be practiced by common people.
Huchori group begins its procession from the village headman’s house and continue towards the other houses in the vicinity. The procession proceeds amidst chanting, singing and dancing. Visiting each house in the village, the group accepts some donation from the residents. The singers usually carry a staff, a bag, an umbrella and a lamp while roaming around the village. Their instruments comprise of dhol (drum), taal (cymbals), pepa (horn pipe) and taka (bamboo clapper).
