A man holding a fish at the Uzan Bazar Fish Market in Guwahati on Wednesday, January 13, on the occasion of Uruka (Bihu). (Ujjal Deb Photo)
Guwahati, January 14 : Though the prices of commodities including foodstuff are sky-rocketing but those factors failed to dampen the Assamese spirit to celebrate Magh Bihu. The Bihu begins today. Magh Bihu, also called Bhogali Bihu, marks the end of the harvesting season.
This is one of the three Bihus celebrated in Assam. The most popular of the three, Rongali Bihu, is a spring festival celebrated in mid-April. The third, Kati Bihu, is celebrated in October. Meanwhile, despite a constant upswing in the prices of food items, the markets here were seen teeming with people doing Bihu shopping. The city has been in the throes of an acute shortage of cooking gas cylinders with black marketers having a field day. The prices of foodstuff have shot up so much that even lawyers across the state hit the streets on Tuesday expressing their protest and resentment.
The Bihu celebrations will in fact begin on Wednesday night when people gather around a bonfire, called “meji”, and make merry in a community feasting, organized in the fields. The next morning, people seek the blessings of elders and light the bonfire. They throw pithas (rice cakes) and betel nuts in the fire, offer prayers, and celebrate the good harvest.
“The price rise has forced us to cut down our budget. But it couldn’t surely dampen our spirit,” said Rajdeep Handique, a teacher.
This is one of the three Bihus celebrated in Assam. The most popular of the three, Rongali Bihu, is a spring festival celebrated in mid-April. The third, Kati Bihu, is celebrated in October. Meanwhile, despite a constant upswing in the prices of food items, the markets here were seen teeming with people doing Bihu shopping. The city has been in the throes of an acute shortage of cooking gas cylinders with black marketers having a field day. The prices of foodstuff have shot up so much that even lawyers across the state hit the streets on Tuesday expressing their protest and resentment.
The Bihu celebrations will in fact begin on Wednesday night when people gather around a bonfire, called “meji”, and make merry in a community feasting, organized in the fields. The next morning, people seek the blessings of elders and light the bonfire. They throw pithas (rice cakes) and betel nuts in the fire, offer prayers, and celebrate the good harvest.
“The price rise has forced us to cut down our budget. But it couldn’t surely dampen our spirit,” said Rajdeep Handique, a teacher.
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