Majuli Celebrates Bhogali Bihu with Rich Traditions and Spiritual Observances
Majuli's Bhogali Bihu Celebrations
Majuli, Jan 14: The historic satras of Majuli celebrated Bhogali Bihu on Wednesday, honoring a 500-year-old Vaishnavite tradition inspired by the teachings of Srimanta Sankardev and Madhavdev.
At the renowned Uttar Kamalabari Satra, devotees engaged in Bhogali Bihu festivities by adhering to traditional practices, including touching the sacred fire of the meji and chanting Haridhwani for spiritual cleansing and communal welfare.
The six ancient Udaseen satras also commemorated the harvest festival with various religious activities. After lighting the meji, rituals such as Naam Kirtan, Guru Seva, Bhakat Seva, Naam Seva, and paying homage to scholars were performed in accordance with established customs.
Additionally, the Auniati and Dakshinpat satras hosted day-long festivities, showcasing Sattriya traditions, Gayan-Bayan, Ojapali, and Naam Kirtan as central elements of the celebrations. Local community members actively participated in these rituals.
Discussing the importance of Bhogali Bihu, the Satradhikar of Dakshinpat Satra, Nanigopal Dev Goswami, emphasized the vital role of culture in maintaining societal cohesion.
“A community cannot thrive without its culture. It is through culture that a community's heritage and the essence of community-building are vividly expressed,” Goswami remarked.
He further highlighted the significance of Bihu in defining Assamese identity, stating that the festival is crucial in shaping the collective lifestyle.
“When we talk about Assamese culture, Bihu is an integral part. The Assamese community cannot endure without it,” he asserted.
Referring to the spiritual and social dimensions of Bhogali Bihu, celebrated during Makar Sankranti, Goswami noted that the festival represents unity and equality.
“This day fosters equality and dissolves social divides, which is why communal meals are a tradition. Among the 33 crore forms of God, we revere Agni, the fire deity. A community cannot exist without Agni,” he explained.
Goswami also underscored the long-standing tradition of lighting the meji, stating, “Lighting the meji is a fundamental aspect of Assamese culture. At Dakshinpat Satra, we have upheld this tradition for centuries, and we continue to pay our respects to the fire god.”
Known as the festival of feasting, Bhogali Bihu was celebrated across all 35 satras of the river island and in nearby villages, adhering to age-old customs.