Assam is celebrating Magh Bihu, also known as Bhogali Bihu or Maghor Domahi, the first major festival of the year. The harvest festival, which brings together people from various communities, marks the culmination of the winter harvest and serves as a time for prayers for prosperity in the year ahead.
The celebrations begin today with Uruka, during which people construct temporary huts called ‘Bhelaghar’ from harvested hay. Bonfires, known as Meiji, are also prepared for the evening. A community feast is held inside these huts, and the Meji will be burned early tomorrow morning, with the ashes being spread across farmlands to improve soil fertility.
Magh Bihu is also marked by traditional Assamese games such as Tekeli Bonga, as well as activities like buffalo fighting, cock fights, and egg fights. People celebrate by sharing traditional Assamese dishes and sweets with family and friends.
The festival holds both agricultural and social significance, symbolizing the harvest season and strengthening bonds of friendship and brotherhood among communities. In urban areas, due to space limitations and a lack of available hay, symbolic, ready-made Mejis are used for the bonfires.
Similar harvest festivals, including Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri in Punjab, and Makar Sankranti in northern India, are also being celebrated across the country.
Also Read: Assam News: Hundreds Defy Fishing Ban in Kaziranga Amid Magh Bihu Celebrations