Magh Bihu is one of the three major Bihu festivals in Assam. It is harvest festival, celebrated to mark end of harvesting paddy in the mid of January. Magh Bihu is a festival of celebration and feast. That’s why it is also called ‘Bhogali Bihu’ (Bhog meaning feast in Assamese).
In January, when Assamese month ‘Puuh’ ends and new month ‘Magh’ starts,Assamese people celebrates Magh Bihu. The first day of Magh Bihu is called Uruka – the eve before Bihu. On the day of Uruka, people in village or community get together and have a magnificent feast late in the night. Next day, people gather in an open space to burn ‘Meji’. A Meji is a huge structure made of bamboo and wood or bamboo and hay. The tradition of burning of Meji is associated with Agni puja.
If you are visiting Assam during January, don’t forget to attend a Magh Bihu celebration. During Magh Bihu, you’ll get to taste various traditional Assamese dishes, sweets and snacks. In different parts of Assam, various traditional games such as Buffalo fight are also organized to mark this Bihu celebration.