MAGH BIHU OR MAGHAR DOMAHI

R. F.

1. When is Magh Bihu celebrated? Where does it seem to have a stronger

hold?
Ans: Magh Bihu is celebrated in winter. It seems to have a stronger hold on
the people of Lower Assam including the tribals.

2. What is the meaning of Domahi? Which Bihu is best known as the festival
of feasting?
Ans: Domahi", also called 'Damhi", means "the junction of two months.
Magh Bihu is known as the festival
of feasting.

3. Which Bihu is described as the cheering Bihu? How is Magh Bihu also
known?
Ans: Bohag Bihu is described as Cheering Bihu or Rangali Bihu. Magh Bihu
is also known as Bhogali Bihu or Bhu of Enjoyment.

4. What is the significance of Uruka? Ans: Uruka is the festivity that takes
place on the eve of Magh Bihu. On this day, womenfolk get ready for
the next day with chira, pitha, laru, curd etc. Uruka feasting may be familial
or communal and it takes several days for its preparation.

5. Where do the women prepare rice beer? How many days does the beer take
to get matured in winter?
Ans: In tribal areas, women prepare rice beer. In winter, it takes four or five
days to get the beer matured.
6.How is the Meji made?
Ans: Meji is made with green bamboo, dried banana leaves and hay. It is
usually temple-shaped.

7.What is the significance of Bhelaghar?

Ans: Bhelaghar is built by young lads on the eve of Magh Bihu. Sometimes
cowherds pass the night in a
Bhelaghar warming themselves by a fire and making use of the vegetables
that they steal from the villagers' gardens and the eatables that are given to
them

8. How is the next day celebrated after Uruka feasting?

Ans: On the next day after Uruka feasting, at crack of dawn, someone in the
family ties thin strips of
bamboo, jute or hay around fruit-bearing trees, calls out to dogs and offer
them rice while womenalk clean the house and cooking pans.

9. What is the belief regarding the ashes and half burnt bamboos?
Ans: The belief regarding ashes and half burnt bamboos is that they increase
the fertility of field and gardens.

10. What is the belief of the Europeans who lighted Lentern and midsummer
fire?
Ans: The Europeans who lighted Lentern and Midsummer fire had the belief
in the efficacy of ashes and embers as a means of fertility.

11. How do the Assamese people celebrate after the mejls and bhelaghars are
burnt?
Ans: After the mejis and bhelaghars are burnt, the Assamese people sit and to
the accompaniment of kettledrums and large cymbals, hold a session of hymn-
singing, known as nam-prasanga.

12. What do the people have in lunch? What is mah-karai?

Ans: In lunch on the Domahi or Sankranti day, people have chira, pitha, curd
and so on. Mah-karai is a special preparation which is a combination of
roasted rice, black gram, sesame and pieces of ginger. When offered for
chewing, it is smeared with oil.

13. How is the delicacy tekeli-pitha prepared? Ans: Tekeli-pitha is a kind of

idli but larger in size, it is prepared by steaming salted rice powder on the
mouth of a small pitcher or even a kettle.

14. How is the delicacy sunga pitha prepared?

Ans: Sunga pitha is prepared by putting moist rice powder in a green bamboo
tube and roasted in fire. The
ingredient mixed with the powder used to be salt but now-a-days some people
prefer a sweet variety.

15. How is the delicacy sunga saul prepared?

Ans: Sunga saul is prepared by steaming the sticky bora rice in a bamboo
tube. When done, the sticky roll is made into pieces and eaten mixed with milk
and gur

16. What do the people have on lunch on the Domahi or Samkranti day?
Ans: On the Domahi or Sankranti day, people have chira, curd etc. in lunch.
Next day at noon it is customary to take a little left-over rice kept soaked in
water and left-over dal.
17. How is the Bhelaghar burnt as per the customs of the Kachari tribe?
Ans: As per the custom of the Kachuri tribe, setting fire to the Bhelaghars is a
special prerogative of the cowherd boys. They burn the Bhelaghars before
dawn, before the crows come out of their nests'. While
setting fire, the leading cowherd starts a prayer wishing glory to their village.

18. What is the importance of swords in the Magh Bihu festival?

Ans: Sword play, like javelin throwing, is a martial game which was a part of
the Magh Bihu festival in earlier times. Young people used to make camps on
dry river banks and exercise themselves in the arts
which were considered necessary to defend the land from aggressors.

19. How is the Kati bihu celebrated?

Ans: Kati Bihu, celebrated in autumn, is a festival of little significance. In the
family yard, a light is put at
the foot of the Tulsi plant and woman and children sing prayer songs,
addressing, the tulsi plant as mother.

20. What does the ploughman do for the protection of his crops?
Ans. For the protection of crops, the ploughman plants a small bamboo in the
field and lights an earthen thing at its foot. He may also whirl a piece of
bamboo and chant certain mantras to protect the maturing paddy from pests.

21. How does the Kachari celebrate the Kati Bihu ?

And: The Kacharis celebrate Kati Bihu by putting lamps at the foot of the
Siju cactus, symbol of their chief God, Bathou, in the garden, in the granary
and in the field.

22. Give an elaborate account of the celebrations associated with Uruka.

And: Uruka is a very significant event celebrated on the eve of Magh Bihu. On
this day, womenfolk get ready for the next day with chira, pitha, laru, curd
etc. It takes several days to prepare for Uruka by gathering fuels, catching
fish from ponds and streams and if possible, getting some meat too. In tribal
women prepare rice beer which is usually undistilled.
Building meji and Bhelaghar is an essential part of Uruka.
Meji and Bhelaghar are temple-like and hut-like structures, respectively.
They are made with green bamboo, dried banana leaves and hay. Sometimes
cowherds pass the night in a Bhelaghar warming themselves by a fire and
making use of the vegetables that they steal from the villagers' gardens and
the eatables that are given to them. Uruka feasting may be familial or
communal.

23. What are the different kinds of food items that people have for lunch on
the Domahi or Sankranti day?
Ans: The lunch taken on the Domahi or Sankranti day is not rice and curry
but chira, pitha, curd and so on. One special preparation is mah-karai, also
called mah-kare. It is a combination of roasted rice, black gram, sesame and
pieces of ginger. When offered for chewing, it is smeared with oil. Another
preparation is tekeli-pitha, salted rice powder steamed on the mouth of a
small pitcher or even a kettle. It is a kind of idli but larger. Another kind of
reparation is sunga-pitha, moist rice powder put in a green bamboo tube and
roasted in fire. In Upper Assam, they make what is known as sunga-saul, the
sticky bora rice steamed in a bamboo tube. When done, the sticky roll is made
into pieces and eaten mixed with milk and gur. There is also a preference for
fried pithas in Upper Assam.

24. Describe how the Kacharis celebrate their festival during the time of
Assamese Magh Bihu.
Ans: The Kacharis have customs similar to those practiced by the Assamese
people during Magh Bihu. But they differ in certain respects. Like the
Assamese people, they also tie cords round fruit-bearing trees. They offer rice
to the flying, the sinking and the moving-to birds, fishes and animals like dogs
and pigs. On the Domahi day, they put a mark of water mixed with cow-dung
around their granary. On the seventh day of Magh Bihu, they again clean the
utensils, sacrifice fowls to Bathou, their god and go out carol singing,
collecting eatables. They call this custom 'magan' or begging. Kacharis regard
the construction of Bhelaghar and setting fire to them as a special prerogative
of cowherd boys. They burn the Bhelaghars before dawn-before the crows
come out of their nests. While setting fire.
to the Bhelaghars, the leading cowherd starts a prayer wishing glory to their
village.

25. Describe the different types of sports and martial games associated with
Magh Bihu. How people in earlier times prepared themselves for participating
in the martial arts?

Ans: Sports and martial games are closely associated with the celebration of
Magh Bihu. This is indeed one interesting feature of this Bihu. Sports held
during Magh Bihu include wrestling, racing, jumping, buffalo fighting and
egg fighting. In earlier times, more martial games like sword play and javelin
throwing were
customary.
Young people in earlier times used to make camps on dry river
banks and exercise themselves in the arts which were considered necessary to
defend the land from aggressors.

26. How is Kati Bihu celebrated in Assam? / Why is Kati Bihu considered as a
festival of little significance ?
Ans: Kati Bihu is a festival of little significance. It is celebrated in Assam in
the autumn season. This festival has no public significance. In the family yard,
a light is put at the foot of the Tulasi plant and women and children sing
religious songs addressing Tulasi as mother. The plant is considered symbolic
of Vrinda,one of the devotees of Krishna.
During Kati Bihu, the ploughman does something for the
protection of his crops. He plants a small bamboo in the field and lights an
earthen lamp at its front. He may whirl a piece of bamboo and chant certain
mantras to protect the maturing paddy from pests. Some persons light the
'akash-banti' or the sky-lamp hanging from a tall bamboo. The Kacharis put
a lamp at the foot of the Siju cactus, a symbol of their chief god, Bathou, in the
garden at the granny and in the field.
Moreover, during this season , the granaries of the farmers
usually remain empty. Hence is it called Kongali Bihu. It lacks the fervour,
gaiety and large scale celebrations of Magh Bihu.That is why, the author
considers Kati Bihu as a festival of little significance.

27. Why does the author believe that the fire rituals associated with Magh
Bihu have an Indo-European origin?

Ans: On the day of the Magh Bihu, the people set fire to the Bhelaghar and
Meji with the cries of God’s names. It is believed that red flames warm the
people shivering in cold. After the fire, the half-burn sticks are scattered in
the fields and the pieces are thrown near the fruit bearing trees as they
believe that this will increase the fertility of fields and gardens. Europeans
also perform the fire rituals. They light Lantern and Midsummer fire in the
belief of the efficacy of ashes and embers as a means of fertility.
So, the author believes that the fire rituals associated with Magh
Bihu have an Indo-European origin.

28.How can we assume the influence of vaishnavism in the celebration of

Magh Bihu? /
How do the vaishnavism influence in the aspect of the festival Magh Bihu?
Ans: On the day of Uruka, people sit together and to the accompaniment of
kettledrums and large cymbals, hold a session of hymn-singing just after the
Mejis and Bhelaghar are set on fire. The holding of nam prasanga or hymn-
singing is a noted feature of “Magh Month” and suitable for religious
purpose.
In this aspect of the festival, the influence of Vaishnavism is evidently seen.
29. Briefly describe the custom magan or begging associated with Kacharis?
Ans: On the seventh day of Magh Bihu, Kacharis clean the utensils, sacrifice
fowls to Bathou, their god and go out carol singing and collecting eatables.
They call this custom as magan or begging.

30. What and why do the cowherd boys pray for while setting fire to the
Bhelaghar?
Ans: The cowherd boys burn the Bhelaghar before the dawn with a prayer
“Glory, glory, glory – glory to our village !” . This prayer is prayed so that
diseases may not visit their village and there may be increase in the paddy
and riches. They also pray that their cattle may be large and strong like
rhinoceros and the elephant.
J
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