ভোগালীৰ ভোগ

Hello everyone

   I hope you enjoyed my last blogs about Bohag Bihu (বহাগ বিহু) and Kati Bihu (কাতি বিহু). I am new at this so excuse the little things i did wrong if there's any. If you see anything wrong you can tell me at the comment section below anytime you want. 

   Today I am gonna write about the last and one of the most important Bihu i.e Magh Bihu (মাঘ বিহু) or Bhogali Bihu (ভোগালী বিহু). It starts in the month of January but the preparations took place weeks before it even starts.

As Kati Bihu is the festival which takes place in that part of the year where there is scarcity of harvest and vegetation. Likewise Magh bihu or Bhogali is celebrated as a thanks for Good harvest to Mother Nature and Gods that the people of assam workships. It is celebrated Both in Upper and Lower Assam and it is basically about the Food. Thats why its called Bhogali Bihu,Bhog (ভোগ)means Meal

Weeks before it starts the Boys and Men starts Building Bhela Ghor (ভেলা ঘৰ) and Mejis (মেজি) erected in the open fields. People spends specially young ones takes hours to build this things which can be more than 50 feet tall or less than 5 feet in height. In many parts Bhela Ghars and Mejis are considered as same things but there is a thin line of difference which many people do not know. Bhela Ghars are temporary night shelter where people can actually live which are made from bamboo,dried leaves,thatch which looks like Huts.

On  the other hand Mejis are made from wood,bamboo,straw,hay which looks like a dome but are pointed at the top as shown in the picture below.

Females on the other side keep themselves busy by making cakes of rice with various names such as Sunga Pitha(চুঙা পিঠা), Til Pitha(তিল পিঠা), Narikolr Pitha(নাৰিকলৰ পিঠা)etc. They also make various sweets of coconut and sasame called Narikolor Laru (নাৰিকলৰ লাৰু) and Tilor Laru(তিলৰ লাৰু). The list goes on and on.

After weeks of preparations finally comes the day of Uruka (উৰুকা) which is the last day of the month of 'Pooh' (পুহ) usually 14th of January. It is the day before the Magh bihu starts. 

On the other hand the day of uruka Males females of  the village spend the day on fishing.

 The night of Uruka people makes Bonfire and gather around it with family and friends,usually near the Bhela Ghor and Meji to spend the night awake. It is also a way of gaurding the Bhelas and Mejis. 

Both men and women cooks various dishes for dinner of Uruka night which they eat near the bonfire. The dishes includes- fish, chicken, mutton, pork, eggs, ducks, etc etc...