Meji

The Meji is what is bonfire and is the most important part of the "uruka" night of Bhogali Bihu in Assam. Village youngersters collect firewood, cut them into pieces at a certain length and erect a very high temple-like structure piled up one piece over the other, held together by bamboo pole in the centre and banana tree from the four corners. The entire "uruka" night is spent around the "Meji" with people singing Bihu songs, beating Dhol, a typical type of drum or playing games. The "Ghai Meji", e.g. the main "Meji", is kept for next day's dawn to burn. One leading person of those people spent the "uruka" night together in the Bhelaghar takes his bath and then burns the "Ghai Meji" by dawn. Then People gather around "Ghai Meji" and throw Pithas (rice cakes) and betel nuts to it while burning it at the same time. They offer their prayers to the God of Fire 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.