Magh Bihu | UPSC

Magh Bihu mind map
When
January 15, 2024
Uruka Eve
January 14, 2024
Why
Harvest Festival
Marks end of winter
Onset of spring
Significance of Bihu
'Bishu' means 'to seek peace'
What
Celebrations
Community feasts
Cultural events
Traditional Dishes
Amitar Khar
Sun-dried banana peel ash
Joha Saulor Payox
Rice pudding with jaggery
Pitha
Laru
Jolpan
Activities
Uruka
Building makeshift cottages
Bhuj Night
Celebratory feast
Stealing vegetables
Used for community meal
Who
Assamese People
Devotees
Visiting temples
Praying for harvest
How
Utilizing harvest crops
Community participation
Significance
Agricultural significance
Celebrates bountiful harvest
Social significance
Community building
Unity and sharing
Cultural Significance
One of three Bihu festivals
Others: Rongali, Kati Bihu
Rooted in agricultural practices
Rural festival
Magh Bihu in Indian Context
Comparable to
Makar Sankranti
Pongal
Lohri
Regional variations
Uttarayan in Gujarat
Maghi in Punjab
Where
Assam, India

Magh Bihu, celebrated on January 15, 2024, is a vibrant harvest festival in Assam, India, marking the end of winter and the onset of spring. Known for its social and agricultural significance, it’s a time for the Assamese community to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest. Celebrations include communal feasts, cultural events, and preparing traditional Assamese dishes like Amitar Khar and Joha Saulor Payox. Magh Bihu fosters a sense of unity and sharing, embodying the spirit of ‘Bishu’ – seeking peace and indulging in community-building.