Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sent his best wishes for Magh Bihu.
Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wished, “Best wishes on Magh Bihu. I hope this festival deepens our bond with nature and furthers the atmosphere of joy.”
Magh Bihu occurs at the middle of January, in the local month of “Magh.” It is also known as “Bhogali Bihu” as it is observed with communal feasts following the annual harvest.
The event will be observed widely across the state this year for the first time since the covid outbreak began in 2020.
The food which is created from the plentiful grains left over from the harvest is the festival’s main attraction. The night before “Bhogali Bihu,” which might occur on January 13 or 14 depending on the year is known as “Uruka,” or “the night of feasts.” The villagers start the festival preparations in “Bhelaghor” or communal kitchens, which are made of bamboo.
People also pray to the God of Fire and gather up pieces of partially burned firewood toss them among the other fruit trees for the coming abundant harvest to commemorate the occasion.
Harvest festivals like Lohri, Bihu and Pongal are observed in different parts of India as a means of surviving the chilly winters and advancing toward the livelier season of spring. The holiday not only ushers in an auspicious year but also brings the family together as they share special foods and dance and sing all night long.