Magh Bihu which is also called Bhogali Bihu or Maghar Domahi is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam. There are various types of traditional sports played in Magh Bihu. From children to old people participate in the gaming of Magh Bihu. Among them, the most popular one is egg-fight. It is played across Assam in every corner from villages to towns of Assam. There are some traditional sports involving pets, animals and birds. These traditional sports are now localized to some places now days. The most thrilling among them is the Buffalo fight. Another popular one is bird-fight. The birds may vary from cock, hen to nightingale.
Celebration of Magh Bihu
Magh Bihu marks the end of harvesting season in the month of Magha that is the month of January-February. It is the Assam celebration of Sankranti, with feasting lasting for a week.
Feasts in Magh Bihu
The festival is marked by feasts and bonfires. The young people erect makeshift huts, known as meji, from bamboo, leaves and thatch, in which they eat the food prepared for the feast, and then burn the huts the next morning.
Featuring of Magh Bihu
The celebrations of Magh Buhu also feature traditional Assamese games such as tekeli bhonga and buffalo fighting.
Beginning of Magh Bihu
Magh Bihu celebrations start on the last day of the previous month, the month of "Pooh". It usually falls on the 29th of Pooh and usually the 14th of January, and is the only day of Magh Bihu in modern times. Earlier, the festival lasts for the whole month of Magh, and so the name Magh Bihu. The night before is "Uruka" (28th of Pooh), when people gather around a bonfire, cook dinner and make merry. During Magh Bihu, the people of Assam make cakes of rice with various names such as Sunga Pitha and Til Pitha and some other sweets of coconut called Laru, which is famous in the household traditional sweet of Assam.
Costumes in Magh Bihu
Magh Bihu also has the ritual of showing respect to the elder one with Gamosa. Gamosa is an important traditional dress not only in Assam, but also in other parts of North East and Eastern part of India.
