New Year’s Day is a time of joy and celebration across the globe, but in Majuli the celebrations bear greater significance. This is because many locals of the riverine district celebrate their birthday on New Year’s Day. “In earlier times, we did not have a system to track birthdays or keep medical records. When children were enrolled in schools, they were expected to provide a date of birth as well. And since most people did not remember the date, they would just say 1st January,” says Krishna Kanta Pegu, a resident of Majuli’s Kulamua village.<\/p>
The first day of the year is celebrated with great fanfare in many villages of the Mising tribe. Celebrations begin at the break of dawn, with the preparation of a special meal in every home. “Pork is an important part of the festivities; it is, after all, a favourite of our community,” says Krishna. The celebrations kick into gear by 10 am, as people hop from home to home to meet their friends and relatives in the village.<\/p>