Magh Bihu 2024: Know About Its Significance And Food Traditions

The week-long festival to mark the end of the harvesting season, ‘Magh Bihu’ will begin on January 16 this year according to the Assamese calendar. It begins with the first day of ‘Magh’ month as per the ‘Bengali Panjika’ and is dedicated to the Lord of Fire, ‘Agni’ while the rest of India dedicates this Sankranti festival to the Lord of Sun, ‘Surya.’

Scroll down to learn more about this festival, its significance and its food traditions.

Significance of Magh Bihu

‘Uruka’ is celebrated a day before ‘Magh Bihu’ when people light the ‘Meji’ and worship the fire as they get ready for the spring season. One of the major highlights of this festival is building the ‘Meji’ which is a makeshift structure compiling bamboo, thatch, and local raw materials.

The festival brings all ethnicities together to celebrate the winter crops. The word ‘Bihu’ loosely translates to ‘to seek peace.’ Along with celebrating the different cultures with a social event featuring different food traditions.

One of the traditions includes people, irrespective of their gender and age, coming together and stealing vegetables from the backyards of other villagers. These food items are then used to prepare a grand meal. In another tradition, the devotees visit the temples and ask the almighty to bless them and their crops.

Food Traditions Of Magh Bihu

The major and famous food traditions of Magh Bihu include some of the most mouth-watering dishes which we have mentioned below:

Amitar Khar

Amitar Khar is alkaline water prepared with sun-dried banana peel ash, however, some people also add vegetables to it to make it more flavourful and nutritious. Apart from being a festive dish, it also has medicinal values like its ability to flush out the toxins from your body and improve the digestive system.

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Joha Saulor Payox

Joha Saulor Payox is a rice pudding made with jaggery or sugar, short rice grains, and milk. The dish is offered to God as a symbol of devotion and gratitude.

Narikol Laru

Narikol Laru is a savoury dish prepared with freshly grated coconut and spices like cinnamon and dry fruits.

Doi Seera

The breakfast staple of the Magh Bihu morning, Doi Seera is a simple yet exquisite serve. It basically consists of puffed rice, curd and jaggery.

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