Magh Bihu 2022: Date and Significance

GUWAHATI: Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu is celebrated in Assam every at the time of the Makar Sankranti festival.

The Magh Bihu or Magor Domahi festival is observed in the state Assam for 2 days and it is a major festival dedicated to the Fire God.

According to the solar calendar, the Makar Sankranti is the biggest pan Indian festival celebrated across the country but with different names in different states such as Lohri in North India and Pongal in South India. In the northeastern state of Assam, the occasion is named Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu.

Magh Bihu is just around the corner people across the state are much excited to celebrate the festival of joy at the beginning of this year. The occasion marks the beginning of an Assamese month Magh and the end of the month called Pooh which means Poush month.

Date: The Magh Bihu 2022 falls on Friday 14 January and Saturday 15 January.

Significance:

The festival is very significant for the entire state but it has a high value in the life of people related to agriculture as it marks the end of the harvesting season.

Magh Bihu is welcomed by people through having a Bhuj which means a feast along with family members, relatives and near ones.

The first day is celebrated with the name of 'Uruka' on the night of which house structure shelters (Bhelaghars) are built with the help of bamboo and leaves. The houses are made in the rice-grown fields where people spent that particular night celebrating Uruka.

On the next morning, people take a ritualistic bath and get ready for another ritual called Meji Jolua which means lighting bonfires on the fields. Throughout the firing of Meji fire, the devotees worship their deities and make various types of offerings including food and flowers.

The houses build last night are also set ablaze which creates fertilizers making the field more fertile for agriculture purposes. On the second day after Uruka Assamese people celebrates the Magh Bihu.

Various types of sweets also called Pithas are prepared in Assamese households during the Magh Bihu festival.

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