Detailed Information about Magh Bihu Festival & Its Importance

India has developed in itself a unique blend of the wonderful cultures and the each state of India has its own kind of richness and the variety in its tradition to display to the world. As we travel from the north to the south of the country or from the west of the country to the Far East the language and the wears differ very much resulting in making India a multicultural country. The flavor of these customs and the traditions comes alive in the many of the festivals that are held in the country. Among the numerous festivals that keep Indians brimming in a jolly mood here from the north eastern part of India, comes the Magh Bihu or the Magh Bihu celebrated in the state of Assam every year.

As the name suggests the festival is celebrated in the Magh month according to the Hindu calendar that coincides with the month of January according to the Gregorian calendar. Bihu marks the advent of the New Year in Assam and is usually the period for the harvest of the crops. Infact there are three Bihu celebrations in the state and each marks the harvest or the sowing of the crops here. The first is Bohag Bihu that is celebrated in mid April that marks the sowing of the seeds the second around the month of October known as the Kati Bihu and finally we have the Magh Bihu as described above.

The Magh Bihu is the celebration time for the people of Assam and the people are engaged in plenty of the feasts, the parties and the dancing on the traditional beats. The popular dish during this time is the Petha that is the prepared firm rice and stuffed with the sweet or salty ingredients. During this time the people can be seen clad in their traditional dresses and plenty of programs are performed by the local people during this time.

Another fun thing during this time is the burning of the traditional bonfire or the Meji. The Meji is made with dry leaves and the sticks that are burnt in the night. But before the Meji is burnt, a small hut is built where the people who burn the Meji stay and guard the Meji. Special foods are prepared for them. Before the burning of the Meji the people take the ceremonial bath. Plenty of the rituals are performed during the burning of the Meji. The people put plenty of the offerings in the bonfire as the coconut etc.

Once the bonfire gets burnt down potatoes are roasted in the embers of the bonfire and other vegetables and then finally the people sit down and enjoy these vegetables along with other foods prepared for the evening.

The ceremony usually ends with the traditional bursting of the crackers. The crackers are locally called Hiloi and are made from bamboo. During the Magh Bihu the people also engage themselves in plenty of sports for entertainment and fun as the cock fights, the egg fights, the bull fights, the pot breaking etc.