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Assam School Celebrates Pre-Magh Bihu, Purabi Dairy Marks Growth at Festival

Students and teachers at Assam Jatiya Bidyalay in Guwahati celebrated the pre-Magh Bihu festival by burning the traditional Meji and offering prayers. The school's management emphasized the importance of showcasing traditional Bihu culture to students, especially those who cannot travel home for the festivities. Separately, Purabi Dairy celebrated the occasion by highlighting a year of significant growth in milk procurement and cooperative expansion. The dairy also reported launching new product lines, including traditional sweets, to strengthen farmer livelihoods and market reach.

Key Points: Pre-Magh Bihu Celebrated in Guwahati School & Dairy

  • Traditional Meji burning ritual
  • School showcases Bihu culture
  • Purabi Dairy reports strong annual growth
  • Cooperative network expands in Assam
  • New product lines launched
3 min read

Students, teachers of Assam Jatiya Bidyalay celebrate pre-Magh Bihu festival in Guwahati

Assam Jatiya Bidyalay students celebrate pre-Magh Bihu with traditional Meji burning. Purabi Dairy marks festival with report on cooperative growth.

"In our campus, in a symbolic way, we try to celebrate pre-Bhogali Bihu, where all the traditional norms and decorum, we want to show to students. - Dr Narayan Sharma"

Guwahati, January 12

Students and teachers of Assam Jatiya Bidyalay in Guwahati celebrated the pre-Magh Bihu festival on Monday.

Following traditional rituals, students, teachers of the institution burnt Meji and offered prayers to the God of Fire (Agni) for prosperity.

Meji is the key part of Magh Bihu celebration, which is made of bamboo, leaves and thatch.

Secretary, Assam Jatiya Bidyalay Management Committee Dr Narayan Sharma said, "In Assam we celebrate pre-Bhogali Bihu in the month of January. This is a very popular festival here for all the communities living in the state. In our school, from the very beginning, we have been trying to showcase this festival and we wish to show our culture and get our students acquainted with different varieties of Bihu culture and many traditional festivals. Many students reside in far places, so it is difficult for them to go to home and witness the Bihu festival. In our campus, in a symbolic way, we try to celebrate pre-Bhogali Bihu, where all the traditional norms and decorum, we want to show to students."

Magh Bihu is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam, which marks the end of the harvesting season in the local month of Magh during mid-January, and the people of the state have celebrated the festival with community feasts after the annual harvest.

Meanwhile, Northeast India's largest dairy cooperative, Purabi Dairy, celebrated pre-Magh Bihu at its dairy processing plant in Panjabari, Guwahati, on Monday, marking a year of strong growth, wider farmer participation and expanding presence across Assam's dairy landscape.

Officials of the West Assam Milk Producers' Cooperative Union Ltd (WAMUL) highlighted that Purabi Dairy has grown from strength to strength over the past year, registering a significant increase in milk production and procurement, along with steady expansion of its cooperative network.

The number of Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) under Purabi has increased during the year, while the cooperative dairy system has also strengthened considerably in Upper Assam, bringing more farmers into the organised dairy fold and ensuring stable income opportunities at the grassroots level.

"Purabi Dairy's focus has always been farmer-first growth. By strengthening procurement systems, expanding our cooperative base and improving market access, we are ensuring that dairy farming becomes a more reliable and sustainable livelihood for thousands of rural families across Assam," WAMUL Managing Director Sameer Kumar Parida said.

During the year, Purabi Dairy also expanded its product portfolio with the launch of Purabi Traditional Indian Sweets, receiving an encouraging response from consumers. Value-added products such as flavoured milk and ice cream continue to witness strong demand, while longer shelf-life products like UHT milk have enabled Purabi to reach newer and more distant markets.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great to see Purabi Dairy's growth being linked with the festival. When local businesses thrive, it strengthens the entire community's economy. Farmer-first growth is the right approach for a state like Assam. More power to our cooperatives!
A
Arun Y
While celebrating culture in schools is excellent, I hope the focus remains on the festival's traditional and agricultural roots, not just a symbolic event. The connection to the harvest and thanking the earth is what gives Bihu its true meaning.
S
Sarah B
Reading about Magh Bihu and the Meji ritual is fascinating. India's diversity of harvest festivals is incredible. From Punjab's Lohri to Assam's Bihu, each has such unique traditions. It's wonderful the school is making this accessible to all students.
K
Karthik V
Purabi launching traditional sweets is a smart move. There's a huge market for quality regional sweets. If they can maintain authenticity, it will be a win for both the brand and for preserving culinary traditions. Hope they expand across the Northeast!
M
Meera T
As someone from Assam living in Bangalore, this news brings back so many memories of home. The smell of burning Meji, the community feasts (Bhog)! 🎉 It makes me happy to know the next generation in schools is still connected to this. Kudos to the teachers.

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