Vendors of food items at Bhogali Bihu melas in the city have not let the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests stop them from contributing to the traditional Bihu festivities.
Stalls at the Bor Asom and Siro Seuj Bhogali Bihu melas near Dighalipukhuri have put up banners reading, “We oppose CAA”.
Roadside stalls have also sprung up at Ambari, Uzanbazar, Ganeshguri and other places across the city.
Entrepreneurs from different places set up stalls to cater to the demand for Bihu goodies.
The stall owners were unanimous on their stand, with several of them stating that Bhogali Bihu ought to be celebrated despite the atmosphere of protest in the state.
“We are concerned at the threat towards our language and culture caused by the CAA. We will oppose the law tooth and nail. We are not in the mood for celebration but Bihu is our traditional festival and we Assamese must maintain our traditions. So we decided to set up stalls and sell traditional items. We have been doing this for the past several years and the organisers requested us not to deprive the people of the festivities,” stall owner from Jorhat at Bor Asom mela Ratul Saikia said.
Pre-Bhogali Bihu melas did brisk business on Sunday and Monday, although they started few days back with people thronging the stalls and buying the necessary food items.
More people are expected visit the melas on Tuesday, the concluding day.
Pithaguri (powdered rice), prepared fresh on dheki (traditional wooden rice-grinding apparatus operated by foot), and sold to customers was the highlight at the Siro Seuj mela. Pithas, prepared by women, sold like hot cakes at some stalls.
The trend of people buying readymade pitha, laru, humur and sandoh is rising as they don’t have time or the skill to make the traditional food items relished during the harvest festival.
Items like curd, cream, flattened rice of different varieties and jaggery, among other items, are also consumed during Bhogali Bihu.
The Uruka feast that fell on Tuesday this year marks the start of the Bihu festivities.
On Tuesday morning, people will make a beeline to the markets to buy fish and meat for the nocturnal feast.
Bigger fish varieties like sital, borali, bhokua and rohu are preferred while duck meat is a favourite for the feast.
Besides community feasts, visiting friends and relatives is another part of the festivities during Bhogali Bihu.