Hatsingimari: Along with the other parts of Assam, South Salmara Mankachar district is also all set to celebrate the festival of Magh Bihu. People of Gopalpur village, in Mankachar, has been preparing for the celebration of the most significant occasion Bihu with full of enthusiasm and joy.
'Bhela Ghar' (Bhela Ghar is a temporary night shelter made of bamboo, thatch, straws, dry leaves, etc,) has been made for the festival.
The enthusiast people of the village are getting ready to celebrate the harvest festival of Assam best known for feasting and celebrating good food.
Men, women and children of the village have gathered in an agriculture field and has been preparing for the harvest festival. The women folk were seen singing and dancing Bihu while preparing Bihu delicacies like pitha and laru. Childrens' was also seen dancing with the music playing in the background.
A local of the village said, "Like other villages, we the people of Gopalpur village too has been preparing to celebrate the harvest festival."
Around 200 families of Moranjan village in Moran, Dibrugarh district has also been getting ready to celebrate the Bihu. They too have made Bhela Ghar, Meji (Bonfire), and arranged for 'Bhoj Bhaat' for the night of 'Uruka' (The night before Magh Bihu is called Uruka, the night of feasts) and dancing and singing programmes.
Magh Bihu or Maghar Domahi which is also known as Bhogali Bihu is a most significant cultural harvest festival of Assam. The celebration of the festival signifies the ending of the harvesting season of the region.
The celebration begins on the last day of the Assamese month Pooh (Poush) and Beginning of the month of Magh which falls around January 13-14 as per the English calendar. The festivities usually continue for a week.
The night before Magh Bihu is called as 'Uruka'. The Bihu starts with early dawn next morning with a ceremony of burning 'Meji' (Bonfire) as a tradition.
There are three types of Bihu celebrated in Assam, these are Bohag Bihu, Magh Bihu, and Kaati Bihu.