Assam gears up for Bhogali Bihu

Spiraling price rise or the chill weather if one thought would deter the spirit of Bhogali Bihu celebrations in the state, then think again as despite all, preparations are on in full swing throughout the state for the ‘festival of food’. Be it the city or the villages, people are busy collecting straw and bamboo required for the ‘Meji’ so that they can lit a bonfire in the morning; fresh from a bath with the winter water on Magh Bihu day. When it comes for a feast, the spirit is indomitable as youngsters are almost ready with their feast preparations for the Uruka night. If  one thought that this year with price rise the effect would be felt on preparation for the Bhogali festivities, then price rise or no rise, people are flocking to the markets to get the goodies either readymade or the commodities to get the finished products done at home. Well that’s city life but back in the villages, the sound of the ‘dheki’ is heard from every household as the womenfolk are busy preparing variety of delicacies or ‘pithas’. Apart from the traditional feasting with variety of delicacies in the platter, many traditional Assamese games like tekeli bhonga (pot-breaking), buffalo fighting, egg fighting and cock fighting have been arranged in some areas in tune with the Bihu spirit. Melodious sounds of dhol, taal and pepa are rendering the air with the young ones singing Bihu songs, in fact practicing in full earnest for some fun.   Well, amidst all this only a few hours stand between the feasting and the festivities. Wishing you all a Happy Uruka and ‘Magh Bihu’, enjoy!