GUWAHATI, Jan 15 � Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu, the harvesting festival of Assam, was celebrated with great fervour all over the State on Monday. After a spell of cold weather preceding the festival this time, people enjoyed the Bihu on a pleasant winter day.
Burning of the traditional meji (a structure made of bamboo, straw, etc. with its top given a tapering shape) and bhelaghar (a makeshift hut, where feast is prepared on the preceding night popularly known as Uruka night) in the early morning of the first Bihu day marked the beginning of the Bihu festivities. This was followed by visits to the temples and naamghars to offer prayers.
It needs mention here that the celebration of the festival begins from the Uruka night, when people gather at a common place and community feasts are organized by the side of the meji.
On the occasion, Bulbuli bird fights were organised at Hajo today. At Ahatguri in Morigaon district buffalo fights were organised today.
Along with the rest of the State, Guwahati, too, had a fair share of festivities on the occasion of Uruka. Mejis and bhelaghars were raised at several places of the city and its fringes, which were set on fire early next morning, even as community feasting on the Uruka night has become absolete in most of the city localities now.
The Pachim Guwahati Nagarik Sajagata Mancha arranged for meji burning at the Sonaram HS School playground, Bharalumukh. At Kumarpara Panchali also, the locals burnt the meji, which was organized under the aegis of Jatiya Diwas Udjapan Mancha. At other places of the city, including Uzanbazar, Odalbakra, Sundarbari and Panjabari also the people celebrated the Bhogali Bihu in a traditional manner.
As the name suggests, Bhogali is a festival of plenty and hence feasting and different types of Bihu delicacies are prepared with rice, coconut, til (sesame seeds), etc. However, the practice of preparing Bihu delicacies at home is gradually dwindling in the city and people prefer buying readymade laru and pitha. Chira (flattened rice) and curd are also the main ingredients of the Bihu day feast.
People sought blessings from the elderly, visited the friends and relatives, and exchanged Bihu greetings on the occasion. Cultural programmes were also organized at different places on the occasion.
Monday being a State holiday, vehicular traffic was noticeably less on the roads.