‘Chunga pitha’: Seasonal delicacy of Barak returns ahead of Magh Bihu

Silchar: As winter tightens its grip on the Barak Valley, green bamboo tubes stacked high in local markets signal the arrival of one of the region’s most cherished seasonal delicacies — ‘chunga pitha’.Prepared with newly harvested sticky rice and roasted inside hollow bamboo, the traditional cake has once again become a staple in households across communities ahead of Magh Bihu and Makara Sankranti.From late November onwards, the arrival of fresh ‘Binni’ rice marks the beginning of the chunga pitha season. Though prices of the new rice are usually steep at first (Rs 100 per kg), the festive pull ensures steady demand. “New Binni rice is expensive, but for chunga pitha we don’t compromise,” said a retired government employee from Silchar’s Rongpur area, smilingly adding that the household is often told a lower price.The preparation is simple yet steeped in tradition. Soaked rice is wrapped in banana leaves and packed into green bamboo segments, known locally as chunga. These are then roasted over open fires of paddy straw. When split open, the bamboo releases a soft, sticky rice cake infused with the aroma of burnt bamboo and banana leaf — a flavour unique to the region’s winter.In rural pockets, the making of chunga pitha turns into a quiet community ritual. Straw fires burn in courtyards and open fields as neighbours gather, reinforcing social bonds through shared labour and food. During Magh or Bhogali Bihu, the delicacy becomes inseparable from celebrations across Assam, symbolising the harvest and agrarian roots of the society.Among Bengali Hindu and Hindi-speaking families, chunga pitha is closely linked with Makara Sankranti or Poush Sankranti rituals.The tradition cuts across religious lines. In Muslim households too, preparing chunga pitha with new sticky rice and sending it to married daughters’ homes is common. “Sometimes, if chunga doesn’t arrive from the in-laws’ house, there’s genuine disappointment,” said Noor Ahmed Chaudhury, a resident of Sonai, underlining its emotional value.More than just food, chunga pitha represents the Barak Valley’s close relationship with nature, agriculture and shared cultural memory.