GUWAHATI: The Assam Government has declared a restricted holiday on Uruka, the feasting day of the Magh Bihu.
The Makar Sankranti / Magh Bihu festivity span over two days and is dedicated to the Fire God. The first day is known as Uruka, and the main day is referred to as Magh Bihu.
This agrarian festival, as the name itself suggests, is all about celebrating a bumper crop through feasting.
The eve of the festival is called Uruka. On this day, men build small cottages (Bhelaghar) with hay and prepare the Uruka feast there. The rest of the family members gather around a bonfire to play games and dance to folk music. Next morning, they wake up and light the Meji (normally a towering structure made of inflammable hay, twigs etc) and offer prays to the God of fire.