Festivity beats chill!

GUWAHATI, Jan 15: Harvest Festival — Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu as it is called – is being celebrated across Assam with traditiol farvour since Uruka, followed by Domahi and Bihu.

January 15 being the first day of Magh, devout people thronged amghars, xatras and temples across the State in large numbers and offered prayers on Monday morning. Footfall on temple premises, according Assamese culture, continues throughout Magh when amprasangas are common. The celebration began with Uruka on Saturday.  All Bihu rituals began on January 14 with Domahi. In Assam the essence of Magh Bihu is unity in diversity with diverse ethnic communities observing the festival in their own ways, slightly yet proudly differing from one another.  

Fishing is an age-old culture in Assam with rivers, beels and ponds aplenty. Fishing in the run-up and during Magh Bihu has its own appeal among the revelers. Catching big fish appeases the fisherman and onlookers as well. Feasting with fish and meat during Uruka or Bihu has a different feeling which words fail to express. 

Sopur in the Dimoria area witnessed mass fishing in Bomani Beel on Uruka. The festical began after Dimoria Kong offeing pujas at the beel. Thousands of villagers fished in the beel with traditiol traps after singing the folk chorus – Lalilung. There was a big feast on Uruka in the area. Traditiol games were back as every other Magh Bihu. Despite legal hurdles, while buffalo fights were seen at some places in upper Assam Hajo, known for its bulbuli fight opted not to go for fun, maybe respecting animal lovers’ appeal to say no to cruelty against animals. There were egg fights, boat race, climbing poles/ba plants smeared with oil, tekeli bhanga, making pithas of all hues, etc.