Guwahati, April 17 -- In the easternmost stretches of Assam, where Margherita rests between low hills and lingering forests, the arrival of the Assamese New Year in mid-April brings with it a quiet transformation. As the air softens and the light grows gentler, water begins to speak a sacred language within the serene grounds of Margherita Buddha Vihar. This is the time of Poi Sangken-which also marks the New Year of Assamese Buddhists-when ritual, community, and contemplation merge into an experience that is both festive and deeply reflective.

Celebrated from April 14 to 16, Poi Sangken is often described as a water festival-locally known as Pani Bihu-yet such a description only touches its surface. At its heart lies the symbolic bathin...