India, Jan. 13 -- As January 15th arrives, a festive hush will settle over Assam. Smoke rises from blazing Meji fires, and the aroma of freshly made pithas drifts through the air. Also known as Bhogali Bihu, this is the festival of feasting. It marks the end of the harvest season, a time when granaries are full, and the hard-working agricultural folk of the state finally sit down to reap the benefits of their labour.

While Magh Bihu is rooted in the soil, city dwellers in Guwahati have their own modern traditions. From the first week of the New Year, streets and bazaars like the bustling Ganeshguri come alive with temporary kiosks. City folk are spoilt for choice as they hunt for feast essentials like crunchy seera (flattened rice), akho...