In pictures: Assam celebrates harvest festival

People in India’s northeastern state of Assam began celebrations for a spring festival, meant to bring in an auspicious harvest season filled with abundant crops and good health. (Source: AP)

A Rabha tribal Hindu priest runs barefoot over burning charcoal as part of rituals during Baikho festival at Gamerimura village along the Assam Meghalaya border, India. (Source: AP)

Rabha tribal girls in traditional attire hold earthen pots filled with traditional rice beer to serve Rabha Hindu priests after they walk barefoot over burning charcoal as part of rituals during Baikho festival at Gamerimura village along the Assam Meghalaya border, west of Gauhati. Every year, the community in India's northeastern state of Assam celebrates the festival, to please a deity of wealth and ask for good rains and a good harvest. (Source: AP)

Rabha tribal Hindu priests head to perform rituals during Baikho festival at Gamerimura village along the Assam Meghalaya border, west of Gauhati, India. (Source: AP)

An Indian Rabha tribal Hindu priest dances around burning charcoal as part of rituals during Baikho festival at Gamerimura village along the Assam Meghalaya border, west of Gauhati, India (Source: AP)

Indian Rabha tribal girls in traditional attire dance during Baikho festival at Gamerimura village (Source: AP)

An Indian Rabha tribal girl in traditional attire with face smeared with rice flour pours rice beer as holy water to a Hindu priest after he walks barefoot over burning charcoal as part of rituals during Baikho festival at Gamerimura village (Source: AP)

Indian Rabha tribal girls in traditional attire bring offerings before they perform a tribal Rabha dance during Baikho festival at Gamerimura village along the Assam Meghalaya border, west of Gauhati, India (Source: AP)

Indian Rabha tribal Hindu priests perform rituals before burning wood during Baikho festival at Gamerimura village (Source: AP)

Indian Rabha tribal Hindu priests bless Rabha people in traditional attire during Baikho festival at Gamerimura village (Source: AP)