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According
to R.G. Smith festivals are reccuring moments
of special Significance, with the celebrations
that fill them, are called festivals. There
are so many forms of festivals, i.e. Seasonal
festivals, Calender festivals, Limited festivals
etc. festivals also belong to Great or Little
traditions, Family or Community Festival
and purposive festivals.
The Bodos have a rich tradition of festival.
They have contributed a lot in the field
of festivals. The festivals and ceremonies
of the Bodos can be classified in to (i)
Religious and (ii) Seasonal. Both religious
and seasonal festivals are closely connected
with agriculture as with all communities
of India. In this connection, we can relate
the observation of S.C.Dube; "India
is Predominently as agricultural and rural
country. The majority of her people live
in the Countryside."
Among the Religious festivals of the Bodos
Kherai, Garja and Marai and among seasonal
festival Baisagu (Bihu), Domashi (Domahi)
are the main festival. Both people have
that glory and glamour to the colourful
festivals celebrated in North-East states
genuinely Assam.
Religious festivals: Garja, Kherai and Marai
:- Garja, Kherai and Marai festivals are
associated with Bathow worship of the Bodo
people. From the time immemorial they wrship
the Lord Shiva, He is known with various
names among the Bodo-Kacharies like Gila
damgra, Khauria Brai, Sri Brai (Shibrai),
Bathow Brai etc. virtually Garja and Marai
do not fall within the range of festival.
These are rather the perfect form of the
religious rites among the Bodos. Garja is
the religious rite of the Bodo peple commonly
worshipped and performed by all the villagers
at a particular worshipping place but the
Marai is a religious rite worshipped and
performed privetly by the individual families
to satisfy the Goddess Marai. Marai puja
is not largly prevalent as Garja among the
Bodo people.
Kherai is a festival in the true sense of
the term. After the Garja and other religious
rites associated with the Bathow worship,
Kherai festival is arranged consecuitively
on a suitable date fixed by the villagers.
In the Kherai festival Bathow - Shibrai
is worshipped along wth 18(eighteen) gods
and goddess in the various contexts and
dances are performed in their honour and
glory. The dances are essential and inevitable
part of the Kherai worship and they are
exhibited in items serially and chronistically.
The items carry different and distinct significances
of various gods and goddess. The dance represents
the activities and behaviours of the gods
and goddess. The dances are initiated, guided
and controlled by the Doudini who is the
focal figure of the dances. Doudini is the
female Shaman or woman oracle.
The Kherai dance is strictly restricted
to the womenfolk. Men are allowed to play
on various musical instruments, yet they
have to maintain the honourable distance
within the precinct.
The Doudini is at first consecrated by the
Daouri (the priest) before the alter of
the Bathow. He is the head of the festival
to observe and preserve all the sanctities
of the rituals. Then the dances follow under
the guidance of Doudini and the menfolk
play on the various musical instruments,
such as, Kham (drum), Ciphung (flute), jotha
(crymble), Serja (a kind of sringed
instrument ).
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