Magh Bihu metamorphosing fast

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 12: Tradition and taste change apace, so do bhelaghars and mejhis is Assam. Breaking with tradition in Bhogali or Magh Bihu is a change that carries quite a few positives, besides a few negative ones as well. Amidst such all-round change, Assam is set to celebrate Uruka and Magh Bihu with much bonhomie and feasting.

The newfound essence in Bhogali Bihu festivities is the urge to go competitive. Take the metamorphosis of the traditiol bhelaghar, the outdoor shelter youths build to pass away the Uruka night in joyful togetherness, fun and frolic and much feasting. But bhelaghars are now going thematic, depicting the State’s heritage structures like Karenghar, Talatalghar and Ranghar, unique designs like the jaapi or well-loved fau like the buffalo or one-horned rhino. Some are even erecting replicas of the World Trade Centre crashing down, London Bridge etc.

Obviously, a new breed of bhelaghar artistes is now much in demand. This besides, bhelaghars are costing big money, some as much as Rs 10 lakh. And to think such artistic, costly structures are meant to be burnt away on Magh Bihu morning! 

As for mejhis, while the changes are not as eye-catching, the competitive mindset of reveler groups is all too evident in the ever-increasing heights of these bonfire piles.

There are many who view such changes as cultural onslaught from outside. Some hail the trend as desirable, giving youths a competitive edge, thereby motivating them to develop and hone their creative skills. Others however disapprove of making bonfires of bhelaghars depicting State heritage structures and artifacts, which they consider as a mark of disregard.

A section of social thinkers see Bhogali Bihu treading the path trodden by Rongali Bihu — with the celebration site shifting from the field to the stage. This they believe is a bad development that may distort age-old tradition in the State which proudly differs in many ways from the makar sangkranti observed elsewhere in the country and abroad.  

Some changes in Magh Bihu celebrations are glaring these days due to legal hurdles and issues over cruelty against animals. There is much heated debate at this time of the year over banning buffalo fights, bulbuli fights, cock fights, etc. However, several traditiol games that once characterized Magh Bihu, are now well nigh forgotten and on the verge of extinction.

It goes without saying that the Bhogali market in Assam, especially the one on Uruka, has few parallels in the country in terms of sales and buying. While greengrocers (barring those of onions!) and dairy dealers in the State do rise to the occasion to meet the huge demand during the festival — for fish, meat, egg  and other protein-rich edibles, Assam has to depend largely on other States.

On Uruka-eve in Guwahati, prized fish like Rohu, Bhokua, Barali and Chital were going at prices ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 1,000 or above per kg, local chicken at Rs 350 per kg against Rs 150-200 per kg of broiler, local duck at Rs 550 per kg, bora rice and joha rice at around Rs 80 per kg, coconut pair at Rs 80 and curd and liquid jaggery at Rs 100 per litre. Further rise in market rates on Saturday is very much on the cards.

But for a majority of Guwahati denizens, Bhogali Bihu is now more a festival for feasting rather than purifying oneself in the sacred mejhi fire. Thus it is that Bhogali markets springing up across the city a week before Uruka, conduct brisk business on all sorts of Bihu delicacies. Others are meanwhile making a beeline for eateries dishing out various ethnic food and heritage brews. Bhogali/Magh Bihu is now more a gastronomer’s delight, an invitation to go on a feeding binge!