Sentinel Digital Desk
Magh Bihu is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam. It marks the end of the harvesting season in the month of Puh (Poush) and heralds the new month Magh (mid-January to mid-February) when the feasting starts after a good harvest. It is also a festival of thanksgiving to God for ensuring a healthy harvest.
Magh Bihu is all about feasting and merrymaking. The celebrations start on the last day of the month Puh.
Uruka is celebrated on the last night of Puh month when community feasts or family dinners are organised.
Early next morning (1st Magh) mejis or bonfires are lit. This again is a community thing. People light the Meji together and pray for wellbeing and happiness of the entire community and race.
The significance of lighting the Meji early morning after bathing (part of the tradition as prayers are offered) is that the fire would destroy all evil and disease and usher in prosperity, health and wellbeing.
The key essence of Magh Bihu also known as Bhogali Bihu (as Bhog means celebration or feast) is feasts, bonfires and good food. People build makeshift shelters known as Bhelaghar with bamboo, hay and thatch. On Uruka night people spend the night in these Bhelaghars as feasting continues overnight.
Various kinds of rice cakes (pitha), such as narikol (coconut) pitha, til (sesame) pitha, ghila pitha, tekeli pitha and sunga pitha along with other sweets like narikol laru (ladoo), til laru are to be found in every Assamese household and are the must haves along with doi- chira (curd and flat rice), koraiguri, sandahguri (variety of rice flour) with curd or milk and jaggery, bora saul (red sticky rice).
Traditional Assamese games such as tekeli-bhonga (pot breaking), buffalo fights, cock fights and egg fights are held in most villages across Assam during Magh Bihu.
Various kinds of rice cakes (pitha), such as narikol (coconut) pitha, til (sesame) pitha, ghila pitha, tekeli pitha and sunga pitha along with other sweets like narikol laru (ladoo), til laru are to be found in every Assamese household and are the must haves along with doi- chira (curd and flat rice), koraiguri, sandahguri (variety of rice flour) with curd or milk and jaggery, bora saul (red sticky rice).
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