Skip to content Skip to navigation

Evergreen Magh Bihu at Barpeta

Bihu is the national Festival of Assam. Bihu is also known as “Domahi” or “Domhi” for the people of barpeta. Magh bihu is very popular, especially for the people of Barpeta where Bihu is celebrated with satriya tradition( Parampara). This Domahi is the Domahi of Bhog, which means to taste the sweetness of Pitha, Laru, sandoh etc. In this festival the farmers granary is full and the women folk are busy making various delicacies. Magh bihu is the festival of eating and enjoying, because of which it is popularly known as Bhogali Bihu.


Magh bihu is celebrated at Barpeta satra in a different light. Domahi is the main source of unity for the people of Barpeta satra, which has been observed traditionally for hundreds of years. As it has been observed traditionally, it naturally unite the people into the one thread of unity and this unity was made by our duo gurus Mahapurush Srimanta sankardev and Mahapurush Madhabdeva through his vaishnavism.


The day before Magh Bihu is called “Uruka”. In uruka, the boys make bhela ghar with “Birina Ban” and enjoy the whole night making fun and having a feast in the “Bhela Ghar” made by them. Meji is the main source of enjoyment which is called “Bhelamag”. The youths bring “Birina” and “nara” for “meji’. The lightening of the meji is also an enjoyable tradition. After “Meji puoa” the bhaktas distribute Prasad and the people take “Tilak” from the ashes of the meji and taking the blessings from God as well as for peace and prosperity . The people of Barpeta also arrange feast in different localities. The mind of the people is also sublime at this moment and this purity of mind compels them to unite with one another. And with satriya parampara this tradition remained same and no modernism can be able to touch it. The boys also make” chouka”, and “alubhaji” amidst much merriment. The people of Barpeta satra welcome this festival very ardently. Besides other tradition there are lot of other things done in Bhogali Bihu with satriya parampara Naam- prasanga is one of the main events of the people of the satra. Barpeta Satra is infact famous for its Chaidhya Prasanga and without prasanga no satriya prasanga is complete. On the first day of Magh Bihu the Ayatis of barpeta satra used to go “ Mitha Aamar Tal”( at Keteki Bari) singing naam- prasanga. “ Charit Tola”( The Life history of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and Sri sri Madhabdeva) is the main tradition of these ayatis and it is very beautiful. The Ayatis rmember the life and the tradition of our Dujana Gurus. Afterall Naam- prasanga is the main source of tradition for the people of barpeta . somany ayatis take part in this “Charit Tola” programme.


Though it is a time of economic hardship for the Barpetians,yet the Barpetians observed this festival with pomp and gaiety. These Barpetians tried their level best to keep our tradition alive and no modernism and no ill culture can be able to demolish our tradition. And it happens only for the unity among the Barpetians. And this tradition of unity bounded the Barpetians into the one thread of brotherhood and peace.

Author info

Juthika Das's picture

Journalist from Barpeta.

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

3 hurt in Chirang explosion

6 Jul 2014 - 10:24pm | AT News
Bombs are back in BTAD areas. Unidentified militants struck again in the area leaving three people injured on Sunday in Chirang distrcit. Three people sustained serious injury when some unidentified...

Narrow escape for Assam MP; 3 killed

24 Apr 2009 - 8:42am | editor
Three persons were killed when NDFB (Daimary) rebels ambushed the convoy of Kokrajhar MP and BPF candidate Sansuma Khungur Bwiswmuthiary in the district on Friday. Mr. Bwiswmuthiary, however, had a...

Arms recoverd at Furkating Junction

4 Jun 2011 - 2:25pm | Ritupallab Saikia
Railway Police at Furkating Junction in Golaghat District recovered two 9 mm pistols and a grenade from a Moriani bound train on Friday night. The train which was coming from New Jalpaiguri, enters...

PM talks to Gogoi; to visit Assam soon

21 Oct 2009 - 6:36am | editor
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is all set to visit Asam soon. The confirmation came up as Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi called on the Prime Minister Manmohan at New Delhi on Tuesday where they...

Other Contents by Author

Dr Nabajit Das , assistant professor of zoology of B H College Howly is being invited to Kenya for his research based work for slow loris. Dr Das will deliver his speech on the causes of distress, plundering for medicine and the reservation on Slow Loris, the only nocturnal animal of north East.this is the 27th international discussion cycle and going to be held in Nairobi on August to 19 - 25. Dr Das is associated with Primate research center and has talking about the slow loris in several countries .
Mantu Das, a 30 years old youth of Milan Nagar, Jania Road, Metuakuchi, Barpeta,  son of Late Ghanakanta Das and Nirupama Das set out his journey to Delhi on bicycle, along with his three demands to give to the president of India.Even after 67 years of India's freedom, there is no railway connection to Barpeta, which is the age old town of Assam. The current status of agri-economy  of the area is very bad. Pride of Assam 'Rhinos' are being killed often by the poachers. Taking all these three problems, Mantu Das has set out his bicycle journey to Delhi to communicate to the President of India - connecting Barpeta with railway system, establish an agricultural industry and to save...
Over 50 students of a school in Barpeta fell ill after being administered vaccine for Japanese encephalitis on Thursday.The students of Baghbar ME School were taken ill after they were administered the vaccine and they began feeling unwell soon after.Then the ill students were taken to Barpeta Medical College Hospital where their condition was stated as stable and there was no reason for concern.
Eminent actor, freedom fighter, ex president, Barpeta District Sahitya Sabha, Social worker vs Education officer Radhakanta Talukdar breathed his last in his residence at Dakshin Hati on yesterday at about 8.20. During last few days he had been ill due to the old age. The people of Barpeta mourned for this renowned drama actor, freedom fighter and education officer of Barpeta. Radhakanta Talukdar was born in the month of December in 1923 in Dakshin hati, Barpeta. He passed his matriculation examination from Barpeta Vidyapith H. S. School in 1944 and passed B.A. degree from Cotton college in 1950. During his students career he had to go to jail in the 1942’s freedom movement. He...
Manas National Park, the centre of tourist’s attraction has opened for the tourists from Saturday. A host of tourists have been waiting to view the natural beauty of this national park which had regain its former glory which was dimmed for some years for the insurgency problem. Each and every year the number of tourist’s migration has been increased. During the year 2010 nov- till oct 2011 a total of 539 foreign tourists and 2798 tourists from our country came from where the national park has been able to collect Rs 146050/- revenue- said Anindya Swargiary, Project Director Manas National park.
“Open the door and let the peace and cool wind come removing thunder i.e. all the evils from the society’’—said Dr.Binita Bora Dev Choudhury addressing in a discussion meet on “ Globalization, crisis in Assamese culture and its remedies”in the 10th Annual “Jatiya Chetana Divas” of all Assam Lekhika Samaroh Sammittee was held here at Barpeta on Tuesday in co-ordination with Barpeta district Lekhika Samaroh Sammittee at the premises of Barpeta Sahitya sabha Bhawan. In her address Dr. Dev Choudhury also added that language is the source of a culture or a nation. The sweetness of the Assamese language identify the cultured mind of the...
The timber smuggling business of Barpeta is not a new matter. Rampant timber smuggling is going on. Woods have been illegally transported during the early morning. But the forest department and the police of Barpeta turned deaf ear on this matter. In the wee hours of September 18 an over-loaded truck (No. AS-01-BC-5676) containing illegal timbers, which is about to cross the Dakshin Hati-Rayatpara connecting bridge (R. P. Road), met an accident. The people of that area had seized the truck and handed over to police. This truck was coming from Meghalaya for one timber smuggler Rahman of Mandia.
"About 90 percent of the communicable diseases can be prevented with the use of safe drinking water. And with little efforts water can be purified for a nominal cost’, said Dr. Aminul Islam Khan, Medical and Health Officer, NRHM, Barpeta while participating as the Resource Person, at the Special Health Awareness programme at Pota in Bhawanipur here recently. He again appealed to the village people to take advantage of various health care facilities offered under the National Rural Health Mission and particularly the Mobile Medical Unit (MMU).Shri Rajib Lochan Borthakur, Field Publicity Officer, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India in his speech spoke about the...
The death anniversary of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva or the Kirtan Mahotsava was observed here at Barpeta Xatra traditionally. According to the tradition, the main Kirtan Mahotsava was held here today, but the satriya tradition had started before seven days of the main Kirtan mahotsava. According to that tradition the devotees of Brindaban Hati have to observe their own duty ( which is called here ‘paal’) and during these seven days before the main Kirtan Mahotsava they have to come to the Kirtan Ghar ( barpeta Satra) at night and ‘Bar Dhemeli”, ‘Gurughata’ etc( performance of Khol Badan). During these seven days according to the tradition along...
Sarthebari is famous for its age old Bell- Metal industry. Sarthebari was upgraded as the township in the year 1955. But it is a matter of great regret that in spite of being a town, still the road conditions of this area is very deplorable. It is under the Sarukshtery LAC whereas most of all the parties like CPI(ML), AGP, Congress etc leaders became the MLA. Yet Sarthebari is considered as the step motherly attitude by the government. Though there are four members in the town committee of Sarthebari consisting of 4 wards, the personal rivalry and fickle of mind among the members became a hindrance in the development of the town, specially in road improving road condition. Fade up with...