The vibrant city of Guwahati is awash with the colors and aromas of celebration as Bhogali Bihu, Assam's cherished harvest festival, draws near. The city's markets have transformed into bustling epicenters of activity, with residents thronging from early morning to secure essential items for the upcoming festivities.
A Feast of Tradition: Stalls Overflow with Bihu Delicacies
Makeshift stalls across the city are brimming with seasonal specialties that define the Bihu experience. Shoppers are eagerly stocking up on traditional treats that symbolize abundance and thanksgiving for the harvest. The air is filled with the sweet scent of til pitha, tilor ladu, and liquid jaggery, alongside other homemade sweets integral to the celebrations. Key highlights include sunga doi (rice cooked in bamboo with yogurt) and hurum, creating a festive tapestry of flavors.
Cross-State Commerce: Sellers Flock to City Hubs
The festive buzz is amplified by sellers who have traveled from various districts of Assam, including Sivasagar, Jorhat, Nalbari, Barpeta, Goalpara, and Kamrup. The two major hubs for these activities are the Dighalipukhuri area and Khanapara on the city's outskirts. This convergence has turned these spots into vibrant marketplaces where the spirit of Bihu is palpable.
Akhil Talukdar, a seller from Kamrup district stationed at Dighalipukhuri, confirmed the upbeat mood. "People are in a festive mood and sales have been decent," he said. He provided a snapshot of current prices:
- Poka mithoi (Assamese spiced rice flour balls): Rs 60 per packet
- Black rice: Rs 160 per kg
- Pitha: Starting at Rs 60–80 per packet
- Bora dhanor seera (flattened bora rice): Rs 150 per kg
- Mahor dali (split black gram): Rs 180 per kg
- Sunga pitha: Starting from Rs 100
- Coconut jaggery dumplings: Rs 70 to Rs 100 per packet
- Black sesame: Rs 300 per kg
High Demand and Festive Preparations for Uruka
Another vendor, Dipon Deka from Barpeta, noted a significant surge in demand over the past few days. Both local residents and visitors are showing keen interest in procuring traditional Bihu essentials as families prepare for Uruka, the feast on the eve of Bhogali Bihu.
Beyond food, the markets are also stocked with mejis (traditional bonfire structures) in various shapes and sizes, with sellers reporting brisk sales. Nilkamal Dey, a resident of Nalbari who has been coming to the city for six years, shared his experience. "Prices range from Rs 100–200 and go up to Rs 2,000. We have already received orders worth Rs 5,000 so far and hope to get more in the coming days," he stated.
The scene in Guwahati is a powerful testament to the living traditions of Assam. The collective rush to markets, the exchange between sellers from diverse districts, and the meticulous selection of ritual items underscore the deep cultural significance of Bhogali Bihu. This annual ritual of preparation is as much a part of the festival as the celebrations themselves, reinforcing community bonds and ensuring the harvest festival's timeless spirit thrives for another year.
