Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu Festival

Tags: Festivals State News

Union Minister of Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on 15 January burn the traditional Assamese Meji (bonfire) in Guwahati as part of the Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu celebration.

About Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu Festival

• Bhogali Bihu which is also known as Magh Bihu is being celebrated in every province in Assam with great enthusiasm. 

• This is a festival of farmers. It is celebrated in the month of 'Magha' in the middle of January.

• After the annual harvest, it is celebrated with community feasts.

• The main attraction of this festival is food. The night before 'Bhogali Bihu' which falls on 15th January is called 'Uruka' which means the night of feasts.

• The villagers build bamboo huts called 'Bhelaghor' or community kitchen where they start with the preparations for the festival.

• Various dishes made from sesame, jaggery (black syrup from sugarcane) and coconut along with vegetables, meat and sweets like pitha and laru are made to celebrate this festival.

• This festival is celebrated for a week. It is celebrated by singing, dancing, feasting and bonfires.

• As per the customs of the festival, people eat the food prepared for the feast at Bhelaghar and then burn the huts the next morning.

• The Sun God is worshiped on this day in different parts of India in the form of various festivals such as Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Maghi (Punjab) and Uttarayan (Gujarat).