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| Two women flaunt their chitol after a day of hectic buying at a market in Tezpur on Wednesday. |
Guwahati, Jan 14 : Assam soaked in the spirit of uruka, the night of feasting, as Magh Bihu celebrations were kicked off with traditional fervour today.
The countdown to the biggest post-harvest festival of the state began with young men erecting mejis and bhelaghars in the biting cold since early morning.
The mejis will be burnt early in the morning tomorrow on the first day of the month of Magh in the Assamese calendar.
Towards evening, flames from bonfires leapt into the skies as family and friends came together for the uruka night feast.
At many places, youngsters organised community feasts and enjoyed themselves by dancing to Bihu tunes.
In the urban areas, people made a beeline for markets, looking for varieties of fish, while the rural landscape saw community fishing in lakes and ponds.
Fish delicacies form an essential part of the uruka feast.
At Uzan Bazar, people were not just buying the assorted fish but a public address system wafted directions on how to cook each of the varieties as well.
As early as at 7 in the morning, the Brahmaputra bank along MG Road at Uzan Bazar was chock-a-block with people who had trooped in defying the bitter cold to buy fish for the bhoj to follow later in the night.
The fish vendors had erected colourful shamianas with their sparkling catch spread out on the ground.
With several hundred people thronging the fog-enveloped venue, the river bank had taken on the look of a mela.
Several families had come down together to buy the much sought after chitol, besides other varieties of fish.
“The feast is at night but this is a perfect beginning. All this adds to the spirit,” said Rajesh Kalita, who had come all the way from Khanapara.
At the pre-Bhogali mela at NEDFi Haat in Ambari, Bihu delicacies worth Rs 14 lakh vanished from the shelves within hours of their display. Chunga pitha and laroos made of coconut and black sesame seeds, sold like hot cakes.
The fish and meat vendors had a field day with prices skyrocketing as demand exceeded supply.
Despite the exorbitant prices, most of the markets were teeming with shoppers since early morning.
“This Bihu is all about fun, frolic and feasting. At least for me, price rise can’t be a barrier for the celebrations,” Ranjit Kumar Pathak, a resident of Kahilipara, said.
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