Bhela Ghar: A Unique Cultural Heritage of Assam

Introduction

The state festival of Bihu is a window into the Assamese culture and way of life. It has since the ancient times been a component inherent to Assamese society. Three cultural celebrations of Assam are Bihu festival – Bohag Bihu, Magh Bihu, and Kati Bihu, and all of these have their own individual and distinctive significance to society. So, in a certain sense, one of the three Bihus has significance compared to its other forms, along with other social norms. The essence of Magh Bihu is different intoxication. ‘Meji’ and ‘Bhelaghar’ are basic components of Magh Bihu.

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The Origin of Bhela Ghar

The word ‘Meji’ has been derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Medhya,’ whereas, ‘Bhelaghar’ is made up of two words ‘megh-griha’-that is Megh and Griha. Though the phrase ‘Meji’ and ‘Bhelaghar’ is of Sanskrit origin, yet it can’t hide the Arya-Mongolian ritual its full of. ‘Meji’ and ‘Bhelaghar’ contain a lot of the folk cultures from our ancestors or tribal people of Assam. ‘Meji’ and ‘Bhelaghar’ enhance the spirit of unity-truthiness and love among the people of the state of Assam, broadening their understanding of human relationship through the acceptance of the real colors of life. It is observed that Magh Bihu’s ‘Meji’ and ‘Bhelaghar’ is very similar looks like the house of the primitive or tribals calling ‘Dekasang’-the really modest life. A young boy stays as a guard the whole ‘Uruka’ night at Bhelaghar to protect the Meji and enjoys the feast by having some dinner in that place popularly known as ‘bhoj’.

Weaving of Meji or Bhelaghar is associated with numerous tribes which belong to Assam. For every tribal people ‘Meji’ and ‘Bhelaghar’ will mean something different.
It involves people from various tribes construct it in particular ways. Thus, the process of making ‘Meji’ and ‘Bhelaghar’ is, in the vernacular, a widely shared “phenomenon”. The way of making bhelaghar and meji is now has change a lot, where hay, thatch, dry leaf of banana tree, and bamboo sticks are used to make the structure of these ritualistic house.

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Architectural Features

The Bhela Ghar uses traditional design and construction to provide comfort and safety. However, the main amongst all is introduced below:

1. Thatching: The roofing of this Bhela Ghar is the most visible characteristic. The material known as thatch, which is dried wood and leaves, is used as its roof, and it also thus provides excellent insulation, making the house cool during summer and warm during winter. It enables excellent drainage, thereby providing the prevention of standing water accumulating into damage in the monsoon.
2. Bamboo Construction: The primary raw material utilized in the construction of Bhela Ghars that is bamboo has the property of offering excellent strength while also being light, pliable, sustainable, and regenerating itself fast, which is a very important fact given that these resources are quite important in the area.
3. Center Courtyard: Many Bhela Ghars have a central open courtyard within the house. This is used for boiling, gathering the community, and executing rituals. The setup is the formation that aids in lightening and ventilation of an internal fraction of a house.

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Symbolism and Modern Relevance

The Bhela Ghar is a significant example and symbol of the rich cultural heritage of Assam. It is the stage through which a village comes in contact with its soil, mastering the art of agriculture toward the spirit of cooperative endeavor, oneness, and unity. Today this is still performed by the villagers during Magh Bihu celebrations.

The Bhela Ghar, however, plays a vital role as a repository of traditional skills and knowledge. It intends to preserve the traditional practices in case of destruction of traditional knowledge due to modernization and urbanization. Indirectly, this ensures the knowledge of and appreciativeness of such traditions passed on to their younger generation.

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Conclusion

An essential part of Magh Bihu in Assam is Bhela Ghar, and it emphasizes the community and tradition binding with agricultural well-being. The vibrant cultural fabric of Assam is well represented by this kind of traditional house, which symbolizes collective effort and communal harmony. While Assam changes over time, Bhela Ghar is likely to remain a focal cultural symbol and ensure that cultural memories are preserved for the future so that all can cherish and celebrate their past.

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