Bhogali Bihu

Bhogali Bihu (also called Magh Bihu) is an Indian harvest festival celebrated in Assam which marks the end of harvesting season in mid-January. The name comes from the word Bhog that is eating and enjoyment. [cite book |last=MacHenry |first=Robert |title=The New Encyclopaedia Britannica |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=O00uAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Bhogali+Bihu%22&dq=%22Bhogali+Bihu%22&pgis=1 |accessdate=2008-01-19 |year=1993 |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica |isbn=0852295715 |pages=v. 21, p. 137]

Overview

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 [cite book |last=Vatsyayan |first=Kapila |title=Traditions of Indian Folk Dance |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=2VsesxLMwC8C&q=%22Bhogali+Bihu%22&dq=%22Bhogali+Bihu%22&pgis=1 |accessdate=2008-01-19 |year=1976 |publisher=Indian Book Co. |pages=p. 116] , the most important thing for the night. During the night, they prepare food and there is community feasting everywhere. [cite news |title= Bihu being celebrated with joy across Assam |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/14/stories/2005011410220300.htm |work=The Hindu |date=2005-01-14 |accessdate=2008-01-19 ] The entire night (called Uruka) is spent around a Meji with people singing bihu songs, beating 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. [cite book |editor=Dr Giriraj Sharan Agrawal |title=Folk Tales Of Assam |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ZPunYQOqnhMC&pg=PA31&dq=%22Bhogali+Bihu%22&lr=&sig=sYc3J6tdcYqCH4X2nw7OMqt88K8 |accessdate=2008-01-19 |year=2003 |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books |isbn=8128803514 |pages=p. 31 ] People gather around the Meji and throw Pithas (rice cakes) and betel nuts to it [cite web |url=http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=417855&sid=ZNS |title=Celebrating Nature's abundance
accessdate=2008-01-19 |author=Smita Mishra |date=2008-01-19 |work=Zee News] while burning it at the same time. They offer their prayers to the God of Fire [cite news |title=Magh Bihu today |url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jan1508/at02 |work=The Assam Tribune |date=2008-01-14 |accessdate=2008-01-19 ] 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 [cite news |first=Pullock |last=Dutta |title=Bonfire, feast & lots more |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080112/jsp/northeast/story_8771062.jsp |work=The Telegraph |publisher= |date= |accessdate=2008-01-19 ] , Egg-fight, Cock-fight, Nightingale-fight etc. are held throughout the day.

External links

* [http://www.jpgmag.com/stories/2430 Bhogali Bihu in India's northeastern state -Assam] (Photo essay)

References