A. Short Answer type Question (Each bearing 2 Marks)
Q.1. What is the delicacy of ‘Sunga- pithqa’ prepared?
Ans: The delicacy of ‘Sunga-pitha’ is pre- pared with pithaguri adding some coconut jel-lies to it.
Q.2. Name the different forms of Bihu? Why is Magh Bihu known as ‘Maghar Domahi’ in Lower Assam?
Ans: There are different types of Bihu like: Bahag Bihu, Kati Bihu and Magh Bihu. Magh Bihu is the winter festival after the harvest of crops in Assam. It is also known as ‘Magar Domahi’ in Lower Assam. Dohami means the transition of two months. Cell-ablated with enthusiasm in lower Assam fortnightly (junction of Puh and Magh). Therefore, Magh Bihu is known as ‘Maghar Dohami’
Q.3. What is the meaning of ‘Domahi’? What do people usually have for lunch on that day?
Ans: Domahi’ refers to the transition of two months. In Lower Assam the two months (Junak- char of Puh and Magh) are celebrated with en-thusiasm. On this day, people usually have various types of pitha, lado, chira, muri and soon jalpan
Q.4. What do you mean by ‘Meji? How is it different form a ‘Bhelaghar’?
Ans: Meji is a temple-like structure built by young men in the fields during Magh Bihu. It is made of bamboo, dried palm leaves and straw. Meji differs from Velaghar in that Meji is like a temple and Velaghar is like a hut.
B. Long Answer type Questions. (Each bearing 7 Marks)
Q.1. Describe the different kinds of sports and martial games associated with Magh Bihu. How did the young people in times prepare themselves partici- pating in the martial arts?
or
What are the different sports held on the occasion of Magh Bihu or Maghar Domahi?
Ans: Magh Bihu is the Bihu of much fun and enjoyment. During this Bihu some sports racing, wrestling, jumping, buffalo fighting, egg fighting etc. are held with enthusiasm.
Along with these sports some martial games like sword play, javeling throwing etc. were also popular during the Magh Bihu in the ear- lier times.
The young people in the earlier times gath- ered weeks ahead of the festival and made camps on dry river beds to practise those martial games. They exercised themselves in the arts with much interest which in turn were proved necessary in warfare.
Q.2. Kati Bihu, according to the au- thor, cannot be called a festival as such. How is Kati Bihu celebrated in Assam?
Ans: There are three Bihu festivals in Assam. This is held in autumn as a festival of minor importance. During this season, the food stores of farming families become empty and therefore farmers are less enthusiastic about celebrating Kati Bihu.
Kati Bihu is celebrated on the last day of the month of Kati. On that day, women and children lit clay candles at the foot of the basil plant and sang bhajans. The Tulsi plant is known as a symbol of Vrinda, one of the devotees of Lord Krishna. Through singing, people asked Tulsi Maa about the location of Lord Krishna.
There is another aspect of Kati Bihu which is related to the farmers. They plant a small bamboo in the field and light earthen candles at its feet and sing some mantras for the protection of the rice and form the invading pests. Some farmers lit ‘sky lanterns’ hanging from tall bamboo.
Q.3. The Uruka happens to be an im- portant aspect of Magh Bihu. Why? or Give an elaborae account of the celebration associated with Uruka, the important part of Magh Bihu.
Ans: Mag Bihu is a festival of much fun and enjoyment. The celebration of this Bihu begins on the last day of the month of Puh and continues to the seventh day of the month of Magh.
Magh Bihu begins with the celebra-tion of ‘Uruka’ which falls on the last day of the month of Puh. On this day, women prepare for the days ahead with their preparations like pitha, ladoos, chira, yogurt, muri and other delicacies. Uruka is usually not a one-day affair, as the preparation for that delicious food item is done a few days in advance. they provide fuel, catch fish from ponds, and some people gather meat to feed them for the next days. People who put prostate at the feet of the elderly during Magh Bihu want happiness. Gurus and elderly people are given gamochas as gifts. Relatives are invited to the house and are served delicious food prepared on the day of Urukar.
So Uruka happens to be an important as- pect of Magh Bihu.
Type By Suman Bora