Earlier this month, Magh Bihu and Makar Sankranti were celebrated with great gusto in Assam and Tripura.
On Magh Bihu, farmers in Assam and other parts of the northeast prepare Meji, a house made of straw, and burn it during the celebration. They offer prayers to deity for a better harvest next year.
Magh Bihu, which is also known as Bhogali Bihu, marks an end to a successful harvesting season.
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"This is our festival which marks the end of harvesting season. There are many delicacies served during the festival. People enjoy them. Pitha, laru are some of the dishes served which people love the most," said Kakoo Baruah, Local
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"Today we burn Meji. This is the tradition of the people of Assam. In villages too, Meji is prepared and burned with great enthusiasm and people stay awake for the whole night," said Robin Deori, Local
During the festival, women prepare traditional delicacies like 'pithas' 'mah-karai', and sesame sweets for the grand feast.
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Farmers also organize feast at their homes and invite friends and fellow villagers.
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"Magh Bihu is our traditional festival in which we prepare Meji. It is prepared from wooden straw. Friends and family members gather and the delicious food are served. We celebrate the feast till the morning and then the Meji is burned," said another local, Prakash.
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In Tripura, people also celebrated Makar Sankranti by decorating their courtyard with rangolis called 'alpana'.
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Women also made rice flours in traditional ways for the winter harvest and rice cakes to welcome relatives.
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"On the occasion of Poush Sankranti we draw 'alpans' and as new harvest comes we celebrate by cleaning and decorating our house," said Rina Debnath, a resident from Tripura.
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"We decorate the courtyards and house with decorative rangoli and offer rice cakes to the God. In the afternoon around 3 PM people come out in groups singing religious songs and go to every house and pray for peace and prosperity," said Sabita Kapali, a villager.
