Guwahati: Fearing missing out on the 'bhela ghar' experience in Guwahati this Bhogali Bihu? Worry not, enterprising craftsmen and traders are bringing their own portable version of the 'meji' or 'bhela ghar' to the fold, allowing for a rich traditional Bihu celebration despite limitations of space in urban settings.
For the unversed, a 'bhela ghar' is a structure made of bamboo and straw, which is a key feature of the Bhogali (or Magh) Bihu celebrations in Assam. Traditionally, in the villages, it is erected in agricultural fields and is the focal point of celebrations on Uruka (Bihu eve). On Bihu the following day, it is set on fire while Assamese people pray for a rich harvest by feeding sesame seeds, 'pitha', and other symbolic items to the flames.
"It is true that people in Guwahati lack space and are compelled to manage their Bihu celebration in the limited spaces that they have", observed Shyamal Barman, a trader taking part in a Bhogali Festival at the Six Mile area. Like many this year, Barman is selling ready-made portable bhela ghars. These smaller cousins of their rural counterparts are considered more feasible in Guwahati, where people live in comparatively cramped spaces. It is also considered convenient by working professionals who perhaps do not have enough time or technical know-how to make their own bhela ghar.
"The Bihu culture in Guwahati is quite different from the one found in villagers; here, our customers will usually arrive in their cars and drive off with their portable mejis", Barman, who stays in the Narengi area of Guwahati and sourced his raw materials from Sonapur town in the city outskirts, informed Business North East.
Ankur Kalita from Nalbari, another seller peddling'mejis' at the same fair, believes these ready-made structures will help the people of Assam to stay rooted in their culture. "People in Guwahati have concrete houses; they do not have expansive lawns where they can build large bhela ghars. Therefore, a ready-made fix makes much more sense here. If they incorporate these mejis into their culture despite living in urban landscapes, they could perhaps feel more connected to their Assamese roots, he opined.
Kalita had arrived in Guwahati to sell his bhela ghars for the first time. While smaller ones are being sold for around Rs 200, the larger ones could cost up to Rs 2,500. Kalita said he made a profit of around 10% on each of the mejis that he sold.
Jibon Das, a pan shop owner from Nalbari, said selling these mejis in Guwahati during the festive season can be quite lucrative for rural craftsmen and traders. "It is actually not that difficult to make these, as we simply need straw and some bamboo. Four of us in the village made these bhela ghars that I am selling here. It is a temporary business that can be quite lucrative, but our sales are going down because the number of dealers is rising every year."
Das, at the same time, stressed that these readymade bhela ghars are becoming very popular as they allow citizens of Guwahati to get a "taste" of the Bihu atmosphere in the villages.
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