Bhogali Bihu Kolkata: Bhogali Bihu, celebrated by the Assamese, is a harvest festival and is enjoyed with food known as bhoj and fanfare at the cusp of Makar Sankranti.
The Assamese community in Kolkata organised a grand get-together at the premises of the Assam Bhawan on the evening of 14 January.
At the cultural function, participants were regaled with popular Assamese songs by well-known singer Pritisha Kalita. Mitali Saikia with her band presented ‘Goalporiya’ folk songs by late Pratima Pandey famed for her rendition of elephant-song mahut bondhu re, and Nishant Phukan’s bihu-geet that inspired the women in mekhela-sador ensembles break into Bihu dance.
A wonderful Bihu dance item was also presented by Priyalim Phukan.
Lighting the meji, made of bamboo poles and thatches, with the chanting of holy mantras, is integral to the Bhogali Bihu celebration that symbolises gratitude for a good harvest at the end of winter as well as a new beginning to launch the next cultivation season.
Bhogali Bihu is in tandem with traditional harvest festivals celebrated by the agricultural communities all across the world, as well as in many regions of India, in different forms. The tradition has been carried through generations to the modern age.
The evening was wrapped up with a sumptuous dinner which must have a fish tenga, the signature Assamese dish.
Earlier in the evening, a Bhogali mela in the compound was inaugurated by Miranda Das, joint commissioner of Assam Bhawan.
Traditional sweetmeats like pitha made with sticky rice and larus (laddoos) of different varieties were served with tea to welcome the guests. At the mela these snacks and traditional attires, gamosa etc. were also on sale.
(Reporting by Ranjita Biswas)
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