MAGH BIHU OR
MAGHAR DOMAHI
,
FROM MODEL QUESTION BANK, Textual Questions & Additional, Noted
by Podmeswar & Edited by Kishan Sarkar
1.Very
short answer question : 1 mark each
a. In which part of
Assam does Magh Bihu have a stronger hold ?
Ans:-Magh
Bihu, the post harvest winter festival seems to have a stronger hold on people
of lower Assam, not excluding the tribals .
b. What does the
term Domahi mean?
OR -
What is the meaning of domahi ?
Ans:-The
term Domahi means the junction of two months.
Or:
The
meaning of domahi is the junction of two months.
c.
What is the Bihu eve known as?
Ans:-
The Bihu eve is known as Uruka .
d.
What is a Mah –Karai or Mah – Kare?
Ans:-Mah
– Karai or Mah – Kare is a combination of roasted rice(ভজা চাউল), black gram(মাটি মাহ) , sesame(তিল) and pieces of ginger(আদা) . When offered for chewing,
it is smeared with oil .
e.
What is the most numerous tribe of Assam ?
Ans:-The
Kacharis is the most numerous tribe of Assam .
f.In
which season , kati bihu is celebrated ?
OR
- In which season is Kati Bihu generally held ?
Ans
:- In autumn season , kati bihu is celebrated .
Or - In
autumn season, Kati Bihu is generally held .
g.What
is the Tulasi plant symbolic of ?
Ans:-The
Tulasi plant is symbolic of Vrinda, one of the devotees of Krishna.
h.Who
is the chief god of the Kacharis ?
Ans:-Bathou
is the chief god of the Kacharis .
2.Short
answer questions : 2 marks each
a.
How do the women folk prepare for the celebration of Uruka ?
OR
- How do the women folk get ready for the bihu in the day of Uruka?
Ans:-
In the day of “Uruka”, the women folk get ready for the next day with chira,
pitha, laru, curd, tekeli pitha, sunga pitha, laru and so on. In the day. fuel
has to be gathered, fish has to be got from ponds or streams and if possible
some meat are too. In tribal setting, women prepare rice beer.
b.
What is the importance of the Meji and Bhelaghar built
for Magh Bihu ?
Ans:-
The Meji and Bhelaghar built for Magh Bihu is
a custom of the Magh Bihu . It is the most special for the cowherds (garakhia)
who pass the night in a Bhelaghar warming themselves by a fire and making use
of the vegetable . They steal the vegetables from the villagers’
gardens and the eatables that are given them .` In the day of
Magh Bihu, the malefolk and the children go to the Mejis and
Bhalaghar where offering of eatables are made of the god of fire ,
Agni. Then to caries of God’s name, fire is set to the structures of meji or
bhelaghar. It is believe that red flames warm the people so long shivering in
cold and the tube of bamboo burst like gunfire .
c.
Why does the author believe that the fire rituals associated with Magh
Bihu have an Indo-European origin ?
Ans:-In
the day of the Magh Bihu , the people set fire to the Bhalaghar and Meji with
the cries of God’s names. It is believe that red flames warm the people so long
shivering in cold. After the fire, the half-burn sticks are scattered(বিক্ষিপ্ত কৰা) in the fields and the
pieces are thrown near the fruit bearing trees as the belief of increasing the fertility(উৰ্বৰ) of fields and gardens. Europeans
are also performing the fire rituals. They light Lentern and Midsummer fire in
the belief of the efficacy(কাৰ্য ক্ষমতা) of ashes(চাই) and embers(এঙাৰ) as a means of fertility(উৰ্বৰ).
So, the
author believes that the fire rituals associated with Magh Bihu have
an Indo-European origin.
d.
How can we assume the influence of vaishnavism in the celebration
of Magh Bihu ?
OR - How do
the vaishnavism influence in the aspect of the festival magh bihu ?
Ans:-In
the uruka, people sit and to the accompaniment(সৈতে) of kettledrums(নেগেৰা) and large cymbals(বৰ তাল) hold a session of hymn-singing(নাম-কীৰ্তণ). The fact of holding
nam-prasanga or hymn-singing is a noted feature of “Magh Month”
and suitable for religious purpose of aspecting the influence of
“Vaishnavaism” .
e.
Briefly describe the custom magan or begging associated
with Kacharis ?
Ans:-
On the seventh day of Magh Bihu, Kacharis clean the utensils(বাচন-বৰ্তন), sacrifice fowls(কুকুৰা) to Bathou, their god
and go out carol singing and collecting eatables . They call its custom magan
or begging.
f.
What and why do the cowherd(গৰখীয়া) boys pray for while setting fire to the
Bhelaghar?
Ans:-
The cowherd boys burn the Bhelaghar before the dawn with a prayer “Glory ,
glory ,glory – glory to our village !” . This prayer is prayed not
to visit the disease in their village and increasing the paddy and be riches
also that their cattle may be large and strong like rhinoceros and the
elephant.
g. Give
a brief account of the various sports and martial arts related to Magh
Bihu ?
OR
– Describe the different kinds of sports and martial games
associated with Magh Bihu . How did the young people in
earlier times prepare themselves for participating in the martial arts ? (Textual
question no. 4)
OR
- How does the magh bihu holding the sports ?
OR - What
are the sports played in magh bihu ?
OR - How
do the earlier times play the sports in magh bihu ?
Ans:-
One interesting feature of magh bihu is the holding of
sports , like wrestling , racing , jumping , buffalo fighting , egg fighting
and so on. In earlier times more martial games , like sword
play and javelin throwing were customary . From
weeks ahead young people , used to make camps on dry river banks and
exercise themselves in the arts which were found necessary to defend
the land from aggressors (আক্রমণকাৰী).
h.
“Kati Bihu , accordin to the author , cannot be called a festival as such”
How
is Kati Bihu celebrated in Assam ?(Textual Q. No. 5) *2
or 5 or 7 marks
OR
- How do the people celebrate kati bihu ?
Ans:-Kati
bihu is held in autumn season as a little significance .
In the family yard , a light is put at the foot of the Tulasi plant and
women and children sing in this manner :
Tulasi
, O Mother , Tulasi ,
You
are Govinda’s favourite ,
Which
way has Krishna gone,
Mother
, tells us quickly.
In
this bihu , the ploughmen does certain things for the
protection of their crops . They plants a small bamboo in the
field and lights earthen lamp mat its foot . They may
also whirl a piece of bamboo and chant(ভজন) certain – mantras to protect the
maturing paddy from pests(কীট). Some persons light the akash – banti or
the sky lamp hanging from a tall bamboo .
The
kacharis put lamps at the foot of the siju cactus ,
symbols of their chief god “Bathou”, in the garden , at the granary(ভঁৰাল) and in the field .
Thus
the people of Assam celebrate the Kati Bihu as a part of bihu festival with
little significance.
i.
Why does the author consider Kati Bihu as a festival of little significance ?
Ans:-The
author considers Kati Bihu as a festival of little significance because it has
no public significance . It is a one day affair for the people of Assam .The
people spend a short time for this festival . The ploughmen only plant a
small bamboo in the field and light and earthen lamp at its foot.
Also in the family yard a light is put at the foot Tulasi plant and women as
well as children sing the prayer of Tulasi only a short time of period at dusk
.
j.
People do not take the usual rice and curry on the Domahi or samkranti day for
their lunch . What are the different kinds of food items that people have for
lunch on this particular day ? (Texual Q. No. 2)
OR
- How do the people take the lunch on the Domahi and samkranti day
or uruka ?
Ans:-The
people take the lunch on the day of Domahi and samkranti day or uruka is not
rice but chira , pitha , curd , mah – karai , takeli
pitha, sunga pitha and so on .
k.What
do the kacharis celebrated in kati bihu ?
Ans:-
The kacharis put lamps at the foot of the siju cactus,
symbols of their chief god “Bathou”, in the garden, at the granary and in the
field.
3.
Long answer questions : 5 or 7 marks each
a.Give
a elaborate account of the
celebrations associated with Uruka ?
OR
- “Uruka feasting may be a family affair or communal .”
Justify the relevance of this above statement with a detailed
account of the customs observed during Uruka .
OR -
The Uruka happens to be an important aspect of Magh Bihu .
Give a elaborate account of the
celebrations associated with Uruka ? (textual question no.1)
OR
- How is the uruka celebrated?
Ans:-
“Uruka feasting may be a family affair or communal .” Uruka is the
bihu eve. It is the previous day of every bihu. It is also associated with the
junction of two months. On this day, the women folk get ready for the next day
with chira, pitha, laru, curd, etc. In the day, fuel has to be gathered, fish
has to be got from ponds, streams and if possible some meat are too. In tribal
setting, women prepare rice beer.
Another
important part of the Uruka is the made of Bhelaghar. Sometimes
cowherd pass the night in a Bhelaghar warming
themselves by a fire and making use of the vegetable that
they steal from the villagers gardens and the
eatables that are given them .
Thus
, Uruka is celebrated enjoyfully in upper Assam and lower Assam .
b.
Give an account of the various food items prepared and eaten during the
festival of Magh Bihu .
OR - Food
ia an integral aspect of the celebration of Magh Bihu .
Describe the importance of food in relation to the festivity of Magh
Bihu .
Ans:-Food
is the most chore or significant part of Magh Bihu and Uruka . For this
festival , the womenfolk get ready for the Magh Bihu with chira
, pitha , laru , curd and so on . On this occasion , fuel has to be
gathered and fish has to be collect from ponds and streams for feasting . Some
meat are also involved in feasting . The tribal women prepare rice beer . In
the night of the Uruka, the feasting is taken in the Bhelaghar .
The
lunch of the Magh Bihu is not the rice and curry instead/ but chira
pitha , curd , and so on . Some special preparation like mah – karai
(mah – kare ) , tekeli – pitha , sunga – pitha , milk and
gur are also eaten in this day .
The
evening meal of the Magh Bihu consist of rice sometimes new rice ,
curry of black gram , fried yam(মিঠা আলু) and so on
Thus,
the various food items are prepared during the festival of uruka or magh
bihu.
c.
All though the kacharis , the most numerous tribe of Assam , have similar
customs like the Magh Bihu , day differ in certain features .
Describe the manner in which the Kacharis celebrate their festival during the
time of Assamese Magh Bihu .(Textual Q.no.3)
OR
- How do the kacharis celebrate the magh bihu or uruka ?
OR -
How do the kacharis consider the Bhela – ghars ? .(Write this answer
from the third paragraph )
OR
- What is the prayer of kacharis during the time of setting fire .
Why does it pray or what is the theme or
reason of the prayer .(Write this answer from the third paragraph )
Ans:-
Among the other communities of Assam , the Kacharis are
also celebrated the Magh Bihu enjoyfully . They tie cords(পঘা/ৰচী) round fruit-bearing
trees . They offer rice to “the flying, the sinking(ডুবা) and the moving”, that
to birds, to fishes ,and to animals like dogs, and pigs .
Further , on the Domahi
day, they put a mark of water mixed with cowdung(গোবৰ) around their granary(ভঁৰাল). On the seventh day of
Magh Bihu (sixth Magh ) they again clean the utensils , sacrifice
fowls to Bathou ,their god and go out carol singing, collecting eatables . They
call its custom magan or begging .
Kacharis
consider the construction of Bhelaghar and setting fire to them
to be the special prerogative(বিশেষ অধিকাৰ) of cowherd boys . The
boys burn the Bhelaghar before the dawn with a prayer “Glory , glory ,glory –
glory to our village !” . This prayer is prayed not to visit the
disease in their village and increasing the paddy and be riches also that their
cattle may be large and strong like rhinoceros and the elephant .
Thus, the
kacharis celebrate the magh bihu or uruka.
Additional Questions And Answers:
1.When
did the magh bihu held on people of lower Assam and upper Assam?(1 mark )
Ans:-The
magh bihu festival holds on in post harvest winter.
2.What
are the other name of Bohag bihu ,Kati bihu and Magh bihu? (2 marks )
Ans:-The
other name of Bohag bihu is Rangali Bihu or Cheering bihu, the other
name of Kati Bihu is Kongali Bihu and the other name of Magh bihu is bhogali
bihu or the bihu of enjoyment.
3.Which
bihu is closely associated with a fire ceremony?(1 mark)
Ans:-In
magh bihu, a fire ceremony is closely associated.
4.What
is Uruka?(2 marks)
Ans:-Uruka
is the bihu eve. It is the previous day of every bihu. In this day, the women
folk get ready for the next day with chira, pitha, laru,curd ,etc. In the same
day, fuel has to be gathered, fish has to be got from ponds, streams and if
possible some meat are too. In tribal setting, women prepare rice beer.
5.What
did the tribal setting of women prepare for the bihu or
in Uruka ? (2 marks)
Ans:-In
tribal setting of women prepare rice beer, usually undistilled(গেলা). In winter, they
take four or five days to get the beer matured.
6.How many
days are needed for the beer matured in winter session?(1 mark)
Ans:-Four
or five days are needed for the beer matured in the winter session.
7.Who
is the writer of the lesson ‘Magh Bihu OR Maghar Domahi’? From which book this
essay has been extracted? (2 marks)
Ans:-Dr.
Praphulladatta Goswasmi is the writer of the lesson, 'Magh Bihu or Maghar
Domahi'. This essay is extracted from the book, “Festivals of Assam”.
8.What
is the name of temple build in “Uruka” of magh bihu ? Who
usually take a hand in this ? How does it structure
made? What is the other name of the temple? How it is look like and
what is called the hutlike?(1+1+1+1+1=5 marks)
Ans:-
The temple-shaped build in ‘Uruka” of Magh Bihu is called ‘Meji’ and which are
hut like those are called ‘Bhelaghar’.
Usually,
young lads take a hand in this.
The structure of Meji or Bhelaghar are
made with green bamboo, dried banana leaves, hay(খেৰ) and so on.
The
other name of temple is Bhelaghar or Meji.
It’s
look like a temple which is called Meji and which are hut like those are called
‘Bhelaghar’.
9.“The
half-burnt sticks are scattered in the fields and pieces may be
brought home to be thrown near fruit-bearing trees”.
What
is the belief /mention the belief of the half-burnt sticks that are
scattered in the fields and pieces may be brought home to be thrown near fruit-bearing
trees? (2 marks)
Ans:-The
belief is that the ashes and half-burnt bamboos increase the fertility of
fields and gardens .
10.
What is the belief of European on the lighted Lentern and midsummer fire? (2
marks)
Ans:-For
the Europeans, it is belief that lighted Lentern and midsummer fire had
the belief in the efficacy(ফলপ্রসুতা) of ashes(ছাই) and embers(এঙাৰ) as a means of fertility(উৰ্বৰ).
11.Why
does some of Europeans tying bands of straw round tree-trunks ? (2 marks)
Ans:-Some
of Europeans had the custom of tying bands of straw(নৰা) round tree-trunks to
render them fruitful .
12.What
is the origin of the fire rituals?(1 mark)
Ans:-The
fire rituals have apparently an Indo-European origin.
13.Why
do the fire set on the mejis and Bhelaghars? (2 marks)
And:-
The malefolk and the children set fire on the mejis and Bhelaghars that the red
flames warm the people so long shivering in cold.
14.What
do the Brahmins or elderly persons do in the Uruka? (1 mark)
Ans:-The
Brahmins or the elderly persons give blessing and put marks of ash(মিট্টিকা
ফুট) on the forehead(কপাল).
15.What do
the people take in the evening meal of uruka ? (2 marks)
Ans:-The
evening meal consist of rice or new rice, curry of black gram(মাটি মাহৰ তৰকাৰী), fried yam(মিঠা আলু) and so on . Next day,
at noon it is customary to take a little left over rice kept soaked(ভিজোৱা) in water and left –
overdal.
16.What
is takeli pitha ? (2 marks)
Ans:-Takeli
pitha is a type of pitha wich is made from salted rice powder
steamed on the mouth of small pitcher(কলহ) or even a kettle .
17.What
is sunga pitha ? What is the different in present situation and the Upper Assam
? How is it made with? (2 marks)
Ans:-Sunga
pitha is a type of pitha which is made from moist(ভিজোৱা) rice powder put in a
green bamboo tube and roasted(সিঁজোৱা) in fire. The ingredient mixed with the
powder used to be salt but now-a-days some people prefer a sweet variety.
In
upper Assam , the people make “sunga – saul” (another name of sunga
pitha ) which is made from the sticky bora rice steamed in a bamboo tube . When
it is done, the sticky roll is made into pieces and eaten mixed with
milk and gur . In upper Assam, there seems to be a preference for
fried pithas .
18.In
which part of Assam does Magh Bihu have a stronger hold ? (2 marks)
Ans:-Magh
Bihu ,the post – harvest winter festival seems to have a stronger hold on
people of lower Assam, not excluding the tribals .
God Bless you all……