Assam to celebrate Bhogali Bihu today

GUWAHATI: Assam is all set to celebrate Bhogali Bihu, the festival of feasts, after the winter harvest from Friday without the overhanging threat of another Covid wave. Last year, the festivities were marred because of Omicron, a variant of Covid-19 that had compelled celebrations to be scaled down.
People across the state have begun preparing delicacies, including a variety of indigenous cakes (pithas) made from rice powder, coconut, sesame seeds and jaggery. Bhela Ghar, an integral part of the festival, has also been built in many areas. Made of bamboo, banana leaves and thatch, these structures are burned early in the morning of the first day of the Assamese month of Magh when people offer prayers to the god of fire. Bhela Ghars, depicting different themes, have been built in different parts of the state.
Markets are flooded with pithas, ladu and curd. The price of Bora rice, a variety of rice used to prepare pithas during Bihu, was being sold for Rs 60-70 per kg on Thursday while sesame was sold for Rs 180-200 per kg, jaggery for Rs 50-80, curd for Rs 160-180 per litre and cream for Rs 600 in the city.
Places of worship like the Basistha temple in Guwahati and Hayagriv Madhav temple in Hajo are all set to host the rituals of Bihu. Basistha temple holds a mela called Maghi Mela and the Hayagriv Madhav temple holds Manikut Utsav.