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| THE
FESTIVALS OF THE BODOS |
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According
to R.G.Smith festivals are recurring moments
of special significance, with the celebrations
that fill them. There are so many forms
of festivals, i.e. Seasonal Festivals, Calendar
Festivals, Limited Festivals etc. Festivals
also belong to Great or Little traditions,
family or community festivals and purposive
festivals. |
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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 predominantly as agricultural and rural
country. The majority of her people live
in the countryside.” |
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Among
the religious festivals of the Bodos –
Kherai, Garja and Marai, and among seasonal
festivals – Baisagu, Domasi are the
main festivals. Both people have that glory
and glamour to the colourful festivals celebrated
in North-East states, genuinely Assam. |
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| Religious
Festivals: |
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Garja,
Kherai and Marai: Garja, Khrai and Marai
festivals are associated with Bathow worship
of the Bodo people. From the time immemorial
they worship the Lord Shiva. He is known
with various names among the Bodo-Kacharies
like, Gila Damra, Khauria Brai, Sri Brai
(Shibrai), Bathow Brai etc. Virtually Garja
and Marai do not fall within the range of
festival. These religious rite of the Bodo
people commonly worshipped and performed
by all the villagers at a particular worshipping
place; but the Marai is a religious rite
worshipped and performed privately by the
individual families to satisfy the Goddes
Marai. Marai puja is not largely prevalent
as Garja among the Bodo people. |
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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 consecutively on a
suitable date fixed by the villagers. In
the Kherai festival, Bathow – Shibrai
is worshipped among with 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 chromatically
The items carry different and distinct significances
of various Gods and Goddess. The Dance represents
the activities and behaviours of 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 women oracle. |
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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 with the precinct. |
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The
Doudini is at first consecrated by the Deuri
(the priest) before the alter of the Bathow.
He is the head of the festival to observe
and preserve all he sanctities of the rituals.
Then the dances follow under the guidance
of Doudini and menfolk play on the various
musical instruments, such as – kham
(drum), ciphung (flute), jotha (crymb),
Serja (a king of stringed instrument). |
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A
Doudini is an oracle possessed of Gods caused
by the incantation of one Deuri –
the priest of the Bathow worship. At the
incantation of the Deuri, the Doudidini
become possessed of the God and begins to
jerk and tremble her body and sounds three
warning being the mother Kamkhya: Beware!
Beware! Beware! Then she gives one commandment: |
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Do
not lead your life like a dog,
Do not lead your life like a pig,
If you lead your life like a dog
Being dependents on other,
If you lead your life like a pig
Being dependent of other,
I shall command the tiger to destroy
you.
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Then
the Doudini begs blessings from the Supreme
God – Bura Bathow and other Gods and
Deities for the people. At last, she give
assurance of peace, prosperity and security
to all the people who came under the banner
of God and religion, then she begins to
move slowly and dance in which the people
present accompany the Doudini. This dance
is known the dance of the advent of the
Doudini. The Doudini is the key-figure in
the Kherai dances, the initiating work for
the dances by the Doudini is called ‘Doudini
Onsranai’ or ‘ Olongi Khangnai’. |
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| The
Cycle of the dances: |
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(1)
The Bathow gidingnai mochanai or the dance
of the Advent is the first dance in the Kherai
festival, then follow the following dances:
(2) Chatrali, (3) Khapri chibnai, (4) Khoijema
fonai, (5) Gandola bonnai, (6) Chagolao Bonai,
(7) Mufur gelenai, (8) Nao bonai, (9) Khamao
barkhonai, (10) Daothoi longnai, (11) Mosakhaori
mosanai, (12) Maoji mengbrang gelenai, (13)
Or mononai mosanai, (14) Gorai dabrainai mosanai,
(15) Jarapagla mochanai, (16) Nai barnai mosanai,
(17) Mainao khuda dihunai mosanai and (18)
Kherai golao mosanai. |
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