Significance of Kati Bihu [10% $ to BoI]

Greetings people.. this is @brahmaputra from Guwahati, Assam. Here's my latest...!

I woke up on Monday (18 Oct 2021) with lots of work to do. I was scheduled to go to the city for some important upcoming weekend assignment. But mom played the emotional game and asked me to leave on Wednesday because of the fact that today (Monday) was the occasion of Kati Bihu.

You guys must know that Bihu is one of the major festivals of Assam. Now there are three times when Bihu are celebrated. This is one of them.

Let me give you a brief idea about the significance of Kati Bihu.

So traditionally, Kati Bihu is celebrated on the first day of Kartik month of Hindu traditional calendar. In olden times, this period was mostly occupied with post-flood hardships -- drought, epidemic etc. People didn't have enough food grains, the crop fields were damaged due to flood or attack of pests. Kati Bihu is also known as Kongali Bihu (or "Poor Bihu").

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Hence people prayed to the Almighty seeking blessings for a good winter harvest. On the evening of Kati Bihu, the women of the households would light an earthen lamp (diya) under the Tulsi plant. There's also a tradition of lighting a lamp high up in the skies called Akash bonti (Sky lamp) supported by a case atop a bamboo pole in the crop field.

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It is believed that pests and insects of the crop field would get attracted by the light of the fire and get burnt, thereby assuring a good harvest.

There was no mood of fun or merry making on this occasion as it was a grim period for the agricultural folk of Assam.

Today, although, this occasion is just a continuation of traditions. There is no more acute shortage of food crops, thanks to the advancement in agriculture post- Green Revolution. Today India has attained self sufficiency in agriculture. But occasions like this, reminds us of how the bygone days were full of hardships for the people. It's important that we preserve the traditional values and respect the farmers for their hardwork on the field. Also it is important that we reduce food wastage.

So that's all for this edition. Thanks for your interest.

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