While people across the state are celebrating Rongali Bihu, the Satras (Vaisnaviate Monasteries) in Assam’s Majuli on Saturday celebrated the festival in their own traditional way.
People including Monks living in these Satras celebrated Rongali Bihu in their own unique way with Buka Bihu (playing in the mud).
When people of the state are celebrating Manuh Bihu on the first day of Assamese month Bohag, the people celebrated Buka Bihu across the different Satras of the river island district.
“There are many benefits of playing in the mud. Mud can cure skin diseases. It also helps to strengthen our brotherhood. Today, we have celebrated Buka Bihu and all our brothers gathered here,” a youth of Majuli said.
Centric to Satras, people across the river island Majuli celebrated ‘Buka Bihu’. ‘Buka Khel’ is a 366-year-old tradition followed by the saints of the Auniati Satra.
The Buka Khel is organized at the Satra premises following traditions. The saints enjoy by applying mud on each other in a playful manner.
Meanwhile, on the first day of Bohag, people across Assam visited temples to seek the blessings of God for a prosperous year ahead. Youngsters also seek blessings from elders in their family and offer them the traditional Gamosa as a mark of respect.
Festivities have gripped Assam with rhythms of ‘Dhul’, ‘Tal’, ‘Pepa’ and ‘Gogona’ setting the tune as the most beloved festival of the state, Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu has arrived.
Bohag Bihu marks the celebration of the beginning of the spring season and usually falls in the second week of April. The festival signifies the time of harvest.
Many Bihu celebration committees in Guwahati and other parts of the state have organized week-long Rongali Bihu programmes.
On the first day of Rongali Bihu – the cattle are washed, smeared with a paste of fresh turmeric, and black lentils and then the people of Assam also worship them.
