The mid-January Bihu called the Bhogali Bihu (also called Magh Bihu) comes
from the word Bhog that is eating and enjoyment. It is a harvest festival and
marks the end of harvesting season. Since the ganaries are full, there is a
lot of feasting and eating during this period. On the eve of the day called
uruka, i.e., the last day of pausa, menfolk, more particularly young men go
to the field, preferably near a river, build a makeshift cottage called Bhelaghar
with the hay of the harvest fields and the Meji, the most important thing for
the night. During the night, they prepare food and there is community feasting
everywhere.
The entire night (called Uruka) is spent around a Meji with people singing
bihu songs, beating Dhol, a typical kind of drums or playing games. Boys roam
about in the dark stealing firewood and vegetables for fun. The next morning
they take bath and burn the main Meji. People gather around the Meji and throw
Pithas (rice cakes) and betel nuts to it while burning it at the same time.
They offer their prayers to the God of Fire and mark the end of the harvesting
year. Thereafter they come back home carrying pieces of half burnt firewood
for being thrown among fruit trees for favourable results. All the trees in
the compound are tied to bamboo strips or paddy stems.
Different types of sports like Buffalo-fight, Egg-fight, Cock-fight, Nightingale-fight
etc. are held throughout the day. There are other conventional festivals observed
by various ‘enthno- cultural’ groups. Me-dam-me-phi , Ali-aye-ligang
, Porag, Garja, Hapsa Hatarnai, Kherai are few among them. |
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