Khagen Mahanta was a notable person in Assamese folk music and known as the "King of Bihu".

During the "language movement" in 1960, Khagen Mahanta got actively involved in it under the leadership of personalities like Bishnuprasad Rabha, Hemanga Biswas, and Jugal Das.

He was a member of the group "Harmony" and promoted human values[vague] with his melodious voice and compositions.

They performed together on many occasions, popularising Assamese folk music and earning a name as the most popular duet singers.

[citation needed] Their son Angaraag Mahanta is also a singer like his parents and is popular in the genre of modern Assamese music; he lived in Mumbai.