Bihu Outfit Ideas: Celebrating Assam's Festival in Golden Silk
Bihu is the heartbeat of Assam — a festival of harvest, spring, and community, celebrated with dance, music, and beautiful traditional dress. As a brand founded by Rashika Mittal, who grew up in Tinsukia in Upper Assam, Bihu is especially close to our hearts. Here's a look at the dressing traditions of Bihu, and how to celebrate it with the golden glow of muga silk.
The Mekhela Chador & Muga Silk
The traditional Bihu garment is the mekhela chador — a two-piece Assamese drape, worn at its most beautiful in muga silk, the rare golden wild silk native to Assam. Classically it's seen in off-white or cream with deep red motifs and borders, a pairing as iconic to Assam as red-and-white is to Bengal. The natural golden sheen of muga is unlike any other silk: warm, luminous, and entirely handwoven.
The Golden Glow of Moonga Silk
If you love the luminous, golden character of Assamese muga, our moonga silk pieces carry that same warm sheen into festive Indian wear. A beige moonga zari Sunheri kurta set has an all-over floral pattern with a soft golden glow, an ivory moonga zari Bano saree shimmers with fine hand-sequin work, and a moonga silk brocade Rangrez kurta is woven with intricate gold motifs.
The Off-White & Red Aesthetic
To honour the classic Bihu palette of cream and red, pair a luminous ivory or gold piece with red accents — red bangles, a red bindi, or a red dupatta. An ivory Noor anarkali or an ivory-and-gold Eila kurta set with a touch of red beautifully echoes the spirit of the mekhela chador in a contemporary silhouette.
Bihu Styling Tips
- Honour the muga glow — golden, luminous moonga silk captures the warmth of Assam's signature wild silk.
- Lean on cream and red — the classic Bihu palette is off-white with red motifs and borders.
- Keep it graceful for dancing — Bihu is a festival of dance, so choose pieces you can move and twirl in.
- Finish with traditional touches — red bangles, a bindi, and fresh flowers complete the festive look.
- Wear the real thing if you have it — an authentic muga mekhela chador is the most beautiful way to celebrate Bihu.
Celebrate Bihu in Golden Silk
Born from Assamese roots, our handcrafted moonga silk pieces carry the golden glow of the region's heritage into festive Indian wear — all tailored to your measurements. Explore our kurta sets and sarees.
Shop the CollectionFrequently Asked Questions
What is traditionally worn for Bihu?
The traditional Bihu garment is the mekhela chador, a two-piece Assamese drape worn most beautifully in muga silk — the golden wild silk native to Assam. It's classically seen in off-white or cream with deep red motifs and borders. Bihu is a festival of dance, so the dressing is graceful and made for movement, finished with red bangles, a bindi, and flowers.
What is muga silk?
Muga is a rare golden wild silk native to Assam, prized for its natural, luminous golden sheen and remarkable durability. It's entirely handwoven and is the silk most associated with the traditional Assamese mekhela chador. Its warm, glowing character is unlike any other silk, which is why it holds such pride of place in Assamese textile heritage.
What colours are traditional for Bihu?
The classic Bihu palette is off-white or cream with deep red motifs and borders, set against the natural golden glow of muga silk. This cream-and-red pairing is as iconic to Assam as red-and-white is to Bengal. To echo it in contemporary Indian wear, pair a luminous ivory or golden moonga silk piece with red accents like bangles or a bindi.
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