Harvest festivities: City set to celebrate Pongal, Magh Bihu

Kolkata: The city has geared up for Pongal and Magh Bihu celebrations that will witness the bonding of various communities on Tuesday. The Tamil community in the city is also set to celebrate Pongal, their harvest festival. K Radhakrishnan, vice president of Calcutta South India Club, said, "I have been celebrating the festival in the city for the last 50 years. Our community waits for this day throughout the year." Panditiya Road resident Lakshmi Sriram said, "The festival is dedicated to Surya, the solar deity, and corresponds to Makar Sankranti. For the last 22 years, I have been celebrating it here." Rashbehari resident Shobha Mohan, said, "My friends from various communities come to my home. I have been celebrating it here for the last 36 years," she said. The Assamese community of the city has elaborate plans for Magh Bihu celebrations. Vaishali Saikia (35) from Guwahati is set to celebrate Bhogali Bihu with her friends. "I prepare a feast with Assamese dishes like pura maas pitika (fire-roasted fish mashed with herbs), gahori and laai xaak (pork with mustard greens), sitol maas'or juul (knifefish curry), and black rice pudding," she said. Orihana Ojah Hatkhowa, vice-president of the Kolkata Assamese Cultural Association, said, "Our celebrations started earlier. We organised a three-day Bihu event at Assam Bhavan."The 150-year-old Assam Socio Literary Club hosted an Uruka feast at Assam Bhavan, followed by a meji bonfire on Monday.