Mythologies of the Magh Bihu Tribes

Magh tribe of East India has actually migrated from the hilly neighbourhood countries of India. The term `Magh` has got etymological significance as it means Mongoloid. The Magh society has rich heritage as exemplified in its cultural aspects. Magh tribes have their own local dialect for carrying on conversation amongst each other. Riddles, proverbs and folk tales are part and parcel of the Magh tribal community. In the social structure, the priest who is locally known as Phongyee, play a significant role for the preservation of conventional education system in the Magh society. Compared to other religious groups, the literacy rate among Magh tribes is higher due to the existence of Phongyee in the Marga localities. To suffice the requirements, Magh boys and girls use to study in usual schools and colleges, built in and beyond their locality. The main occupation of Magh tribes is agriculture. People those who live in the mountainous terrains, undertake the practice of jhum cultivation. While some people residing in the plains plough cultivation, weaving and fish catching are also taken up by many of them. Business community, traders and service holders are barely ever found in their society. Child labor is unfamiliar, and also Magh females are seen working in the construction sites and field. Since the society is patriarchal, the eldest man becomes the head of the whole family. However, the status of females in the Magh society is no less insignificant. In fact a Magh female has got ample freedom in respect of several things like divorce, marriage, and also owning property. Two kinds of marriages, namely, exogamy and endogamy are prevalent in the Magh society. Also widow marriage is permissible. Ragratha, Maratha, Ramratha are various classes of this tribal society. Leaders, priests, chieftains hold esteemed positions in the whole of the Magha society.

The Magh ( Mog ) is the term used in history of Bengali and others people of South Asia for the Marma and Arakanese/Rakhine of Arakan. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the meaning of Magh represent the people belongs to magadha (bihar) part of the indian state of Bihar. During the rise of Shunga dynasty & the fall of buddhism in the country of Moghs/Maghs or Magadha many of Local Buddhist people migrated towards east of Bengal, they established a Kingdom between chittagong & Arakan Yoma Mountain in Burma.the Mrauk U Kingdom of Arakan expanded its territories to the Chittagong area of Bengal. The navy of the kingdom of Arakan or rather Magh sailors along with the Portuguese had plundered along the coast of Chittagong; as well as in the rivers of Bengal; and captured many Bengalis and sold them in the slave markets that were run by the Dutch East India Company, VOC in Batavia. For those notorious activities in the past, the Arakanese were called Magh pirates by the people of Bengal. Another alternative suggestion for the term Mog suggests that the word is derived from Mongol. That country is mentioned in the Arakanese Chronicles as the original residing place of the ancestors of the Arakanese kings who were the relatives of the Buddha. In his memorise, the Mughal emperor Jahangir described a group of Maghs who visited him, accompanying Hushang, son of Islam Khan. He gives the date of the visit as 1 April 1613 (14th of Farvardin on the Iranian calendar, 1022). He describes the group as hailing from a Magh controlled territory near Pegu (capital of the Mon kingdom) and Arakan. Jahangir considered the Maghs unrestrained in their diet ("They eat everything there is either on land or in the sea, and nothing is forbidden by their religion") and their marital habits ("They marry their sisters by another mother"). He described their language as "that of Tibet," and their religion as neither Muslim nor Hindu. During the hey days of the Arakanese kingdom, many Arakanese people who were called as Mogs lived in Chittagong region of Bengal. As Chittagong, what is now in Bangladesh, was part of Arakan in the past, the Arakanese Magh governors ruled part of Bengal by residing in that city as the capital of the colonial region of Arakan. The Arakanese king also appointed Bohmong Chiefs to rule in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in Bohmong Htaung. The Chakma (Thaik people) region of CHT and the kingdom of Tripura were also part of Arakan at that time. Those people living in CHT, especially in Bandarban were still ruled by Bohmong Chief until now since Arakan's rule of Bengal. The Arakanese who have been living in CHT, Bengal, since the ascent of Arakanese kingdom in the 16th century were also known as the Marma people. Those Marmas are known as Mog to the people of Bengal as they are the Arakanese descendants. Arakanese people living in Hill Tripura state of India since that ancient time, are also called as Mog or Magh by the local people of Tripura State.

Magh Bihu (also called Bhogali Bihu (of eating Bhog i.e. enjoyment) or Maghar Domahi is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam, North-East India, which marks the end of harvesting season in the month of Magh (January–February). A bonfire (Meji) is lit for the ceremonial conclusion and prayer to the God of Fire. The festival is developed by the Tibeto-Burman cultures and festivals Magan of Kachari. The festival is marked by feasts and bonfires. Young people erect makeshift huts, known as Meji and Bhelaghar, from bamboo, leaves and thatch, and in Bhelaghar they eat the food prepared for the feast, and then burn the huts the next morning. The celebrations also feature traditional Assamese games such as ‘’tekeli bhonga’’ (pot-breaking) and buffalo fighting. Magh Bihu celebrations start on the last day of the previous month, the month of "Pooh", usually the 29th of Pooh is 14 January, and is the only day of Magh Bihu in modern times (earlier, the festival would last for the whole month of Magh, and so the name Magh Bihu). The night before is "Uruka" (28th of Pooh), when people gather around a bonfire, cook dinner, and make merry. The first day of Magh Bihu is known as Uruka or the Bihu Eve. The word Uruka is originally derived from the Deori-Chutia word Urukuwa which means "to end", signifying the end of the harvesting season as well the Pausha month. On this day, women folk get ready for the next day with food items like- Chira, Pitha, Laru, Curd. A feast is organised at night known as Bhuj (derived from the Sanskrit word "Bhojana"). Various indigenous communities prepare rice beer, which is usually not distilled. This is known as Chuji by the Chutias, Nam-Lao by Tai-Ahom, Zou by Bodos, and Aapong by the Mising. Uruka feasting may be a family affair or communal. After the feasting, the Uruka is over. Hut-like structures called Bhelaghar are also built in the fields where people stay during the night. More often village youth pass the night in the Bhelaghars warming themselves by the fire and making use of the vegetables that they steal from the backyards of villagers which is considered a tradition.