Bihu is a set of three important cultural festivals of Assam – 'Rongali' or 'Bohag Bihu' observed in April, 'Kongali' or 'Kati Bihu' observed in October or November, and 'Bhogali' or 'Magh Bihu' observed in January. The Bhogali Bihu, also known as Maghar Domahi, is celebrated during the Assamese month of ‘Pooh’ (January) and lasts for seven days.
Bhogali Bihu is a harvest festival and is the second largest Bihu after Bohag Bihu. Bhogali comes from the word ‘Bhog’, which means eating and enjoyment.
The festival dates back to the time of the Ahom kings, who ruled the region and encouraged agriculture as a crucial aspect of the state's economy. According to Hindu scriptures, the festival dates back to 3500 BC.
Scholars speculate that the tradition of Bihu dates back even further to ancient times when people made fire sacrifices for better harvests. Since the granaries are full, there is a lot of feasting and eating during this period.
The cuisines include pitha (rice cakes), laru (sesame and jaggery sweets), and much more. The days of the festivals witness many vibrant cultural events and sports like traditional Bihu performances and tekeli bhonga.
There is also the exchange of sweets and greetings at this time. On the eve of the day called uruka, i.e., the last day of the month, 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 a Meji, a structure made of bamboo and thatch, and light it up the next day.
The word Uruka is originally derived from the Deori-Chutia word Urukuwa which means ‘to end’. The word Meji is also derived from a Deori-Chutia word Midi-ye-ji where "Midi" denotes "Ancestral gods", "Ye" means "Fire" and "Ji" means "Fly away", signifying the worship of ancestral spirits which fly away with the fire.
Uruka night is spent in the bhelaghar around a Meji with people singing bihu songs, beating Dhol, a typical kind of drums or playing games. People prepare food and there is community feasting called Bhuj everywhere.
Boys roam about in the dark stealing firewood and vegetables for fun. The next morning, people start their day early, clean their houses, take a shower and wear new clothes.
People gather around the Meji and throw pithas 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.
Burnt pieces of firewood are collected and thrown into fields, which is believed to provide better harvest. People consume a special preparation known as Mah-Karai, which is a roasted mixture of rice and black gram.
The celebrations also feature traditional Assamese games such as tekeli bhonga (pot-breaking). Different types of sports like buffalo-fight, egg-fight, cock-fight, etc are held throughout the day.
Any Bihu celebration is considered incomplete with melodious folk Bihu Geet (songs). The tune of traditional musical instruments including Toka Xutuli, Baanhi, and Gogona, are commonplace.
On the occasion of Magh Bihu, a lot of people worship Lord Indra, who according to the Hindu mythology is God of rains and clouds. People worship him for good rains in the coming months.
Kacharis clean utensils and sacrifice fowls to Bathou, their God and go out carol singing, collecting food on the seventh day of Magh Bihu. Along with the main Me-Ji and Sangken, there are many related festivals that can be seen in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The occasion of Magh Bihu coincides with the celebrations of Pongal and Makar Sankranti in many states. Several other festivals are also observed by various ethnic-cultural groups at this time.
Me-dam-me-phi, Ali-aye-ligang, Porag, Garja, Hapsa Hatarnai, Kherai are a few among them. The Koch celebrates this bihu as pushna.
Various indigenous communities prepare rice beer, which is usually not distilled. This is known as Chuji by the Chutias, Nam-Lao by Tai-Ahom, Zou by Bodos, and Aapong by the Mising.
