AHSEC Supplementary Reader in English ‘VISTAS’ class 12 textbook question’s answer. In this, we are giving you some extra questions and answers and the answers for the textbook questions of the chapter Magh Bihu or Maghar Domahi. These questions and answers will help you to prepare for the AHSEC HS English examination. There are 5 extra short answer type questions for your AHSEC HS English examination. All textbook questions and answers for the chapter “Magh Bihu or Maghar Domahi” are given.
- Section I – Extra Questions (2 marks each)
- Section II – Textual Questions and Answers for the chapter “Magh Bihu or Maghor Domahi”.
‘Magh Bihu or Maghar Domahi’ Class 12 English Supplementary Reader Important Question and Answers for AHSEC Examination
Currently, the pdf for these answers is not available for download due to security reasons. Please note the answer from here itself. These answers will help you to carry maximum marks in your SEBA HS English examination from the chapter Magh Bihu or Maghar Domahi which is written by Dr. Praphulladatta Goswami.
I. Answer the following questions: (2 marks each) – Extra Questions
(a). What is Magh Bihu also known as?
Ans: Magh, Bihu, the post-harvest winter festival seems to have a stronger hold of Lower Assam, not excluding the tribals. Magh Bihu is also known as Maghar Domahi, meaning the juncture of two months and the festival of feasting or Bhogali Bihu.
(b). Write a short description of ‘Uruka’.
Ans: A fire ceremony is closely associated with Magh Bihu, but more significant is Uruka, the Bihu eve it may be a family affair or communal. On this day womenfolk get ready for the next day with Chira, Pitha, Laru, curd, etc. Uruka is not exactly a one-day affair, for fuel has to be gathered, fish has to be got from ponds, streams, and if possible, some meat too. In tribal settings, women prepare rice-beer, usually undistilled. In winter it takes four or five days to get the beer matured. Literally, Uruka is the day before the Bihu.
(c). What is Bhelaghar?
Ans: People make temple-like structures in fields in the Bihu eve. Usually, young lads take hand in this. These structures made with green bamboo, dried banana leaves, and hay are usually temple-shaped and called Meji, and those which are hutlike are called Bhelaghar. Sometimes cowherds pass the night in Bhelaghar warming themselves by a fire and making use of the vegetables that they steal from the villagers’ garden and the eatables that are given them.
(d). What kind of food people take on the Domahi or Samkranti day?
Ans: The lunch taken on this day is not rice and curry but Chira, Pitha, curd, and so on. One special preparation is mah-karai (mah-kare), a combination of roasted rice, black gram, sesame, and pieces of ginger. Another item is tekeli-pitha, salted rice powder steamed on the mouth of a small pitcher or even a kettle. Also, Sunga-pitha a favorite food item. No meat is allowed on the Domahi or Samkranti day.
(e). How do the Kacharis celebrate Magh Bihu?
Ans: The kacharis, the most numerous tribe of Assam, have similar customs, though these differ in certain features. They tie cords around fruit-bearing trees. They offer rice to the “flying, the sinking, and the moving”, that is, to birds, to fishes, and animals like dogs and pigs. Further, on the Domahi day, they put a mark of water mixed with cow dung, around their granary. On the seventh day of Magh Bihu (sixth Magh), they again clean the utensils, sacrifice fowls to Bathou, their god, and go out carol singing, and collecting eatables. They call this custom Magan or begging.
Textbook Questions And Answers For English Chapter Magh Bihu or Maghar Domahi for AHSEC Class 12
Following are the answers to the textbook questions for the chapter “Magh Bihu or Maghor Domahi” of AHSEC Class 12 English Supplementary Reader. These questions are very important forthe AHSEC class 12 final examination.
(a). The Uruka happens to be an important aspect of Magh Bihu. Give an elaborate account of the celebrations associated with Uruka.
Ans: Magh Bihu, the post-harvest winter festival one of the most important and biggest festivals of Assam, is celebrated in the local month of Magh during mid-January. The day before Magh Bihu is called Uruka. Uruka plays an important role in the lives of people living both in Upper and Lower Assam. On this day womenfolk get ready for the next day with Chira, Pitha, Laru, curd, etc. Uruka is not exactly a one-day affair, for fuel has to be gathered, fish has to be got from ponds, streams, and if possible, some meat too. In tribal settings, women prepare rice-beer, usually undistilled. In winter it takes four or five days to get the beer matured.
Another important chore is to build temple-like structures in fields on the Bihu eve. Usually, young lads take a hand in this. These structures made with green bamboo, dried banana leaves, and hay are usually temple-shaped and called Meji, and those that are hut-like are called Bhelaghar. Sometimes cowherds pass the night in a Bhelaghar warming them by fire and making use of the vegetables that they steal from the villagers’ garden and the eatables that are given to them.
Uruka feasting may be a family affair or communal. After the feasting evening is over, the next day at the crack of jawn, someone in the family ties thin strips of bamboo, jute, or hay around fruit-bearing trees, calls out to dogs, and offers them rice, while womenfolk clean the house cooking pans. Then all take a purifying bath and put on washed clothes and Meji’s are burnt.
The importance of Uruka for the farmers is found to be above everything. With these aspects, the celebration of Magh Bihu begins.
(b). People do not take the usual rice and curry on the Domahi or Samkranti day for their lunch. What are the different kinds of food items that people have for lunch on this particular day?
Ans: The lunch taken on this day is not rice and curry but Chira, Pitha, curd, and so on. One special preparation is mah-karai (mah-kare), a combination of roasted rice, black gram, sesame, and pieces of ginger. Another item is tekeli-pitha, salted rice powder steamed in the mouth of a small pitcher or even a kettle. Also, Sunga-pitha a favorite food item.
No meat is allowed on the Domahi or Samkranti day, the lunch is made up of chira, curd, etc., the evening meal consists of rice (sometimes new rice, if not taken earlier in the month of Aghon), curry of black gram, fried yam and so on. The next day at noon it is customary to take a little leftover rice kept soaked in water and leftover dal.
(c). Although the Kacharis the most numerous tribe of Assam, have similar customs to the Magh Bihu, they differ in certain features. Describe the manner in which the Kacharis celebrate their festival during the time of Assamese Magi Bihu.
Ans: Magh Bihu plays an important role in the life of the Kacharis. The Kacharis, the most numerous tribe of Assam, have similar customs, though these differ in certain features. They also tie cords around fruit-bearing tices. They offer rice to “the flying, the sinking, and the moving”, that is, to birds, to fishes, and animals like dogs and pigs. Further, on the Domahi day, they put a mark of water mixed with cow dung, around their granary. On the seventh day of Magh Bihu (sixth Magh), they again clean the utensils, sacrifice fowls to Bathou, their god, and go out carol singing, collecting eatables. They call this custom Magan or begging.
On the other hand, they consider the construction of Bhelaghar (bilagur in their pronunciation) and setting fire to them to be the special prerogative of cowherd boys. The boys burn the Bhelaghars before dawn, ‘before the crows come out of their nests’. The leading cowherd while setting fire to the Bhelaghar in a village chants prayers to god for the prosperity, good health, and well-being of all villagers. He prays that disease may not visit their village, that their village may be filled with paddy and riches that their cattle may be large and strong like the rhinoceros and the elephant,and that those persons who had beaten them even though the cattle in their charge had not eaten up the persons’ paddy may suffer long and much.
This is the way how Kacharis of Assam celebrate their Bihu which is almost similar to the rituals of Magh Bihu.
(d). Describe the different kinds of sports and martial games associated with Magh Bihu. How did the young people in earlier times prepare themselves for participating in martial arts?
Ans: During the celebration of Magh Bihu, people enjoy themselves to a great extent eating extensively and feasting. Besides, people enjoy the festivity of this season by playing or participating in a great many sports and martial arts associated with Magh Bihu such as wrestling, racing, jumping, buffalo fighting, egg fighting, cockfighting, bulbuli fighting (a kind of bird), and so on. Tekeli bhanga (pot breaking) is one of the funniest games.
In earlier times the young people used to make camps on dry river banks a few weeks ahead and exercise themselves in the arts which were found necessary to defend the land from the aggression. The martial games that the young people exercised included the sword fight and javelin throw which were customary.
(e). Kati Bihu, according to the author, cannot be called a festival as such. How is Kati Bihu celebrated in Assam?
Ans: Kati Bihu, held in autumn, is a festival of little significance. It has no public significance. In the family yard, a light is put at the foot of the Tulsi plant, and women and children chant prayers. The plant is considered symbolic of Vrinda, one of the devotees of Krishna.
Another aspect of Kati Bihu is that the plowman does certain things for the protection of his crop. He plants a small bamboo in the field and lights an earthen lamp at its foot. He may also whirl a piece of bamboo and chant certain mantras to protect the maturing paddy from pests. Some persons light the Akash-banti or the sky lamp hanging from a tall bamboo. The Kacharis put lamps at the foot of the Siju cactus, a symbol of their chief god Bathou, in the garden, at the granary, and in the field. Kati Bihu cannot be called a festival as such.