Festival Description Relation to Makar Sankranti Significance Celebration Difference from Makar Sankranti
Magh Bihu Magh Bihu, also known as Bhogali Bihu, is a harvest festival celebrated in the Indian state of Assam. It marks the end of the harvesting season in the region. The festival is named after the month of Magh in the Assamese calendar and is celebrated with feasting and bonfires. Magh Bihu is related to Makar Sankranti in that both festivals are celebrated around the same time, in mid-January, and are associated with the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days. Both festivals are harvest festivals and are celebrated in different parts of India, marking the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn). The significance of Magh Bihu lies in its celebration of community, abundance, and the end of the harvest season. It is a time for people to come together, enjoy the fruits of their labor, and prepare for the upcoming year. It is also a festival that honors fire and the Sun for their role in agriculture. Magh Bihu is celebrated with community feasts, traditional games, and the building of makeshift huts called 'Bhelaghar' from bamboo, leaves, and thatch. The night before Bihu, called 'Uruka', is an important part of the celebration, where people gather around a bonfire, cook meals, and enjoy a night of festivities. The next morning, the huts are burnt in the fires, symbolizing the discarding of the old and welcoming the new. While both Magh Bihu and Makar Sankranti are harvest festivals, they differ in their regional practices and cultural significance. Makar Sankranti is celebrated across India with kite flying, donations, and holy dips in rivers, while Magh Bihu is specific to Assam and is characterized by its community feasts and bonfires. The rituals, customs, and traditional foods associated with each festival also vary significantly.






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