Bhogali Bihu Celebrations in Saudi Arabia

Not to be left behind the folks back home in Assam, Bhogali Bihu was celebrated in a big and fun-filled manner in Saudi Arabia. To match with the local week-end holiday, Magh Bihu here was celebrated on 15th January 2009.

Around fifteen Assamese families, residing in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, gathered at Jubail for the festival. The program opened with the singing of the traditional “O, mur aapunar dekh” song followed by a short in-house cultural program covering modern Assamese dances, Assamese songs, games and others. To keep up with the spirit of Magh Bihu, traditional Assamese dishes were cooked in the open using firewood. Staying away from home did not prevent us from having a taste of Assamese pithas, bora-saul, mitha-alu, begena-pura, etc., during Bihu. The dinner was very akin to the Uruka Bhuj with a plethora of mouth-watering  traditional Assamese dishes, all prepared deliciously by the better halves, being served to fit the occasion.

Keeping up with the tradition, a “Meji” was also specially made to suit the event and was lit up in the wee hours of the morning to end this very memorable day.

Picture - A group photograph of the Saudi Arabia Axomia Xomaj on 15 Jan 2009.

Contributed by
Reep Hazarika
Jubail Industrial City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia