The harvest festival of Magh Bihu was joyously observed throughout Assam, featuring lavish banquets and the lighting of ‘Mejis’. After a hiatus of nearly nine years, the customary Bulbul bird fights resumed on Monday. Magh Bihu, which is also known as Bhogali Bihu, is a celebratory time of feasting that signifies the culmination of the crop-gathering period during the Assamese month of Puh, which falls between December and January.
On the festive occasion of Magh Bihu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the inhabitants of Assam. He expressed his hope that the splendor of the natural harvest would instill a sense of optimism and delight in all. Looking forward to a future brimming with joy and aspiration, he shared his message on platform X. Similarly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah conveyed his sincere wishes to the people of Assam, referring to them affectionately as sisters and brothers. He voiced his hope that the harvest celebration would bring about an abundance of joy and wealth for everyone.
During the celebrations, Assam’s Governor Gulab Chand Kataria urged citizens to reinforce their unity by disseminating sentiments of affection and respect across the region. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his desire for Magh Bihu to deliver joy, tranquility, and abundant wealth to the state, invigorating it with positive vibes.
“May the abundant new harvest that fills the fields and barns bring prosperity and joy to the country. I hope that the plentifulness of Bhogali enhances the unity and peace among everyone,” he continued. The celebration, marked by the happiness of bountiful storehouses, spans nearly a week of feasting, starting with Uruka, the evening before Sankranti, which falls on a Sunday.
Various delectable dishes were crafted for the evening meal, utilizing a bounty of seasonal fresh vegetables, an assortment of meats including chicken, duck, lamb, pigeon, and fish, as well as newly gathered rice. Young people typically gathered to dine communally outside their residences in ‘Bhela Ghars’ and ‘Mejis’. These structures, assembled from bamboo, dried leaves, and hay, were built by young individuals who came together regardless of their religious, caste, or linguistic differences.
The ‘Bhela Ghars’ were built to resemble homes, and the group gathered inside to dine after preparing the meal outdoors next to an all-night bonfire. Come dawn on Monday, the ‘Bhela Ghars’ and ‘Mejis’ were ignited, following the receipt of blessings from the household and community elders. Additionally, individuals offered prayers for a fresh, auspicious start and a prosperous harvest in the following year.
Subsequently, everyone enjoyed a variety of classic snacks known as ‘Pithas’ alongside the cozy heat from the burned ‘Bhela Ghars’ and ‘Mejis’. These ‘Pithas’ are typically made by the household’s women over the course of several days leading up to Magh Bihu. On Monday, after a pause of about nine years, traditional Bulbul bird fights resumed, guided by a fresh series of regulations released by the Assam government on January 11. The practice had been halted because of legal prohibitions.
In the morning of Magh Bihu, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with his relatives, made a visit to the Hayagriva Madhav temple located in Kamrup district’s Hajo, where they, alongside numerous other attendees, observed a traditional bird combat event.
Revitalizing our time-honored traditions and ceremonies has been a fundamental aspect of our strategies. After almost ten years, I had the opportunity to observe the bulbul fight, an essential tradition of Bihu that our administration has successfully restored,” he remarked following the event. Similarly, the government’s established guidelines have permitted buffalo fights, primarily occurring in Morigaon and several districts of Upper Assam, provided certain safety measures are in place.
