India, Jan. 15 -- For singer-composer Angarag Mahanta, popularly known as Papon, Magh Bihu holds a "special place" in his heart. Reflecting on the relevance of the harvest festival in his life, the 50-year-old says, "No matter how far my music travels, Magh Bihu brings me back home to family, food, and shared happiness." Celebrating the festival, he adds, reinforces how "our culture connects people universally, beyond language and geography." For Papon, this spirit of community reflects the essence of Assam's folk culture: "simple, honest, and deeply rooted in community life." Memories of songs around the Bhela Ghor (temporary hut) and stories shared near the Meji (bonfire) taught him "the power of simplicity and togetherness," the singer shares. His childhood memories of Magh Bihu - family feasts on Uruka (the eve of Magh Bihu) with pithas "mixed with jaggery, sesame, coconut and more," and quiet moments by the fire with his father - remain some of his most treasured. "Sometimes, I would sit through the night with my father (late singer-composer Khagen Mahanta) beside a small fire at home, guarding our bamboo boundary fences," he shares, moments that still bring "both a smile and tears."...