Golaghat/Nagaon 13 (Assam), January (HS): The festival of Uruka is celebrated a day before Bhogali Bihu i.e. Magh Bihu. On this day, people have a collective feast at night in a Meji (hut) made of grass and straw. And, the next day after bathing, the Meji is set on fire after performing puja. After that, the festival of Bhogali Bihu begins. On the day of Uruka, there is a tradition of collective fishing in ponds, lakes and rivers in many parts of the state. In this connection, today the local people followed the tradition of collective fishing in Kaziranga National Park and Kadampukhuri located in Batadrava of Nagaon district.

It is known that there is a long tradition of fishing on the occasion of Magh Bihu in Kaziranga National Park, but it was banned a few years ago. There was a dispute between the forest department and the people around this every year. But, this time the park administration allowed the local people to hunt fish for some time, due to which a lot of enthusiasm was seen among the local people today.

Forest department sources have said that during floods, the local people are very careful in protecting the wild animals; in return, on the occasion of Uruka today, the forest department allowed fishing in the park for two hours. The local people seemed very excited about this.

On the other hand, in Kadampukur, Batdrava of Nagaon district, local people were also seen hunting fish today on the occasion of Uruka of Bhogali Bihu. Keeping in mind the previous tradition, the people of Hatichong Kamarchuk of Batdrava hunted fish in Kadampukur today.

Like before, this time also all the people of the village were seen united, dancing, singing and enjoying and hunting fish. It is noteworthy that for hundreds of years, the festival of mass fishing has been traditionally celebrated at Kadampukhuri in Hatichong Kamarchuk of Nagaon district on the day of Magh Bihu.

This time also the people of the village celebrated the festival of mass fishing with great enthusiasm. This morning, countless people thronged Kadampukhuri to catch fish and watch the fish hunt. People gathered without any regard to caste and creed and turned Kadampukhuri into an area of coordination. It is known that amid the spontaneous and colorful fun, a section of people were seen indulging in the joy of Bihu by singing songs and dancing.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash